Pain Sensitivity, Pain Threshold, Range of Motion, Stretching
Conditions
Brief summary
The primary objective of this study is to determine the immediate efficiency of stretching intensity on regional and distant pain sensitivity in healthy subjects. It is hypothesized that the analgesic effect of stretching may be linked with the intensity of stretching in a dose-response relationship.
Interventions
The participants are assigned to four bouts of static stretching of the right knee flexors with a 20-second rest period between bouts 20 to the point of discomfort and to the point of pain.
Sponsors
Study design
Masking description
Participants were blinded to the results of all measurements and naïve to research hypotheses. The investigator was blinded to the results of all measurements.
Intervention model description
This was a randomized, repeated-measures cross-over study. The interventions consist of two different stretching protocols (e.g., stretching to the point of discomfort and stretching to the point of pain). Subjects were randomized to one of two groups (pain first or discomfort first). Both groups underwent a static stretch protocol consisting of four bouts of thirty-second constant-angle static stretching of the knee flexors with a 20-second rest period between bouts. Subjects were instructed to keep the limb relaxed as the lower leg was passively moved towards extension to the point of discomfort and the point of pain.
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria
* Healthy men and women aged 18-55 years are recruited. As part of the screening, volunteers will also be asked to indicate known medical issues or diseases.
Exclusion criteria
* Participants are included if they have no known medical conditions such as; cognitive impairments, neurological, orthopaedic, or neuromuscular problems that might affect the somatosensory system or preclude stretching exercises or range of motion testing at the knee.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure pain thresholds | Pressure pain thresholds were measured as a baseline just prior to the induction of stretching to the point of pain and stretching to the point of discomfort | Pressure pain thresholds was measures using a handheld pressure algometer |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Knee extension range of motion | Passive knee extension range of motion was measured as a baseline just prior to the induction of stretching to the point of pain and stretching to the point of discomfort | Passively induced knee extension range of motion was measured using the Biodex system 4 pro isokinetic dynamometer |
| Passive resistive torque | Passive resistive torque was measured as a baseline just prior to the induction of stretching to the point of pain and stretching to the point of discomfort | Passive resistive torque was measured using the Biodex system 4 pro isokinetic dynamometer |
Countries
Denmark