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The Effect of Stretching Intensity on Pain Sensitivity

The Effect of Stretching Intensity on Pain Sensitivity

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05989490
Enrollment
31
Registered
2023-08-14
Start date
2023-08-20
Completion date
2024-04-30
Last updated
2024-05-09

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Pain Sensitivity, Pain Threshold, Range of Motion, Stretching

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

OTHERStatic stretching

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

Bispebjerg Hospital
CollaboratorOTHER
University of Copenhagen
CollaboratorOTHER
Research Unit for General Practice in Aalborg
CollaboratorOTHER
University College of Northern Denmark
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

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

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 55 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

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

MeasureTime frameDescription
Pressure pain thresholdsPressure 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 discomfortPressure pain thresholds was measures using a handheld pressure algometer

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Knee extension range of motionPassive 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 discomfortPassively induced knee extension range of motion was measured using the Biodex system 4 pro isokinetic dynamometer
Passive resistive torquePassive 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 discomfortPassive resistive torque was measured using the Biodex system 4 pro isokinetic dynamometer

Countries

Denmark

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026