Stretching and Pain Sensitivity

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Stretching is frequently used in clinical practice to manage musculoskeletal discomfort and to prevent sports injuries. It is not known if stretching affects pain sensitivity. The purpose of this study is to investigate if a 4 week daily stretching protocol alters pain sensitivity. The investigators hypothesize that stretching reduces pain sensitivity.

Official Title
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Local and Systemic Changes in Pain Sensitivity After 4 Weeks of Calf Muscle-tendon Stretching: A Randomised Trial

Conditions
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Stretching

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Calf muscle stretching


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Aged between 18 and 40 In general good health, in the opinion of the Investigator, based on medical and physical history. Speaks, reads and writes Danish language. Exclusion Criteria: Regular use of stretching History of surgery to the lower limb(s) History of traumatic and overuse injures to the lower limb(s), including but not limited to: Tendinopathies, Bursitis, Muscle injuries, Significant ankle sprains, other ligament injuries Hyper mobility syndromes, including but not limited to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Generalised hyper mobility syndrome History of symptoms of autoimmune disorders (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis). Planned surgical procedure during the duration of the study History, diagnosis, or signs and symptoms of clinically significant neurological disease, including but not limited to: Stroke or transient ischemic attack, Alzheimer's disease or other types of dementia, Clinically significant head trauma within the past year, Peripheral neuropathy, Epilepsy or seizure, Impaired balance Alcohol or drug abuse within the last 5 years History, diagnosis, signs or symptoms of any clinically significant psychiatric disorder Diabetes Subjects with regional pain syndromes suggestive of lumbar compressions with radiculopathy or at risk of developing radiculopathy. Any other condition, which in the opinion of the Investigator, would put the subject at increased safety risk or otherwise make the subject unsuitable for this study.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 40 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Basic Science
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Stretching<br>Daily stretching of the calf (dominant side; defined as leg used to kick a ball). 2 stretching exercises are performed daily: 1) stretching of the soleus muscle; 2) stretching of the gastrocnemius muscle. | Other: Calf muscle stretching<br> <br> |
| No Intervention: Control<br> | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from baseline in pressure pain threshold (PPT) at the ipsilateral (same side as being stretched) calf assessed by a cuff pressure algometer |  | Baseline and after 4 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from baseline in PPT at the counter lateral calf |  | Baseline and 4 weeks | 
| Change from baseline in PPT at the ipsilateral arm |  | baseline and 4 weeks | 
| Change from baseline in temporal summation of pressure pain at both calfs and ipsilateral arm. |  | Baseline and after 4 weeks |