Clinical trial NCT03713788: Muscle Stretching - the Potential Role of Endogenous Pain Inhibitory Modulation on Stretch Tolerance
Official title: Muscle Stretching - the Potential Role of Endogenous Pain Inhibitory Modulation on Stretch Tolerance
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Muscle Stretching Exercises
Pain Threshold
Keywords: Stretch tolerance
Range of Motion
Lead sponsor: University College of Northern Denmark
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Aalborg University
First posted: 2018-10-22
Enrollment: 34
Sex: MALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 45
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: A sample of convenience was recruited for this cross-sectional study. Participants were randomly assigned to a pain group or a control group using counterbalanced block randomization. Passive knee extension range of motion was measured three consecutive times with five-minute intervals between measurements. Both groups underwent a static stretch protocol consisting of two bouts of thirty-second constant-angle static stretching of the knee flexors with a one-minute rest between bouts. Subjects were instructed to keep the limb relaxed as the lower leg was passively moved towards extension. Following stretching, the post-stretch measurement was performed. Finally, subjects in the pain group were instructed to immerse their non-dominant hand into a container with circulating water at 1˚C to 4˚C and keep it there for 2 minutes. A Biodex system 4 pro dynamometer was used to quantify range of motion and passive resistive torque. Muscle activity was recorded as surface electromyography.
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

Brief summary: This study investigates the influence of a remote, painful stimulus on stretch tolerance. Half of the participants will receive a conditioning painful stimulus following static stretching while the other half will rest quietly.

Detailed description: The effect of stretching on joint range of motion is primarily related to changes in the tolerance to stretch, but the mechanisms underlying this change are still largely unknown.

The nervous system has an inbuilt ability to modulate the perceived magnitude of afferent noxious stimuli via supraspinally mediated endogenous pain inhibition or facilitation and by engaging endogenous mechanisms pain tolerance in healthy individuals is known to increase. Thus increasing the tolerance to pain could potentially increase range of motion following stretching.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Eligibility for participation included the absence of any pain or other conditions that might affect the somatosensory system.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Substance abuse,
* History of neurological or mental disabilities
* Lack of ability to comply with instructions
* Delayed onset of muscle soreness.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Knee extension range of motion
timeFrame: Passive knee extension range of motion was measured at baseline
measure: Change in knee extension range of motion between baseline and post stretch.
timeFrame: Changes in passive knee extension range of motion were measured 5 minutes after baseline measures following stretching
measure: Changes in knee extension range of motion between post stretch and post pain.
timeFrame: Changes in passive knee extension range of motion were measured 5 minutes after post stretch measures following intervention.
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Surface electromyography measures of muscle activity
timeFrame: Muscle activity during the passive knee extension motion was measured at baseline
measure: Changes in surface electromyography measures of muscle activity between baseline and post stretch measures.
timeFrame: Changes in muscle activity during the passive knee extension motion were measured 5 minutes after baseline measures following stretching.
measure: Changes in surface electromyography measures of muscle activity between post stretch and post pain measures.
timeFrame: Changes in muscle activity during the passive knee extension motion were measured 5 minutes after post stretch measures following intervention.
measure: Passive resistive torque using the Biodes system 4 pro.
timeFrame: Passive resistive torque during the passive knee extension motion was measured at baseline.
measure: Changes in passive resistive torque measured using the Biodex system 4 pro between baseline and post stretch measures.
timeFrame: Changes in passive resistive torque during the passive knee extension motion was measured 5 minutes after baseline measures following stretching.
measure: Changes in passive resistive torque measured using the Biodex system 4 pro between post stretch and post pain measures.
timeFrame: Passive resistive torque during the passive knee extension motion was measured 5 minutes after post stretch measures following intervention.
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Aalborg
country: Denmark
facility: University College of Northern Denmark
Study officials:
affiliation: University College of Northern Denmark, Department of Physiotherapy
name: Dorte Drachman, Msc.
role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
References: