NCT05961449

Mechanisms of Exercise-induced Hypoalgesia

Disentangling Peripheral and Central Mechanisms of Exercise-induced Hypoalgesia in Healthy Adults Males.

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (actual)
• Sponsor: Université Catholique de Louvain · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 18 Years – 30 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This project aims to clarify the mechanisms underpinning the acute analgesic effect of exercise in healthy humans-a phenomenon called "Exercise-induced hypoalgesia" (EIH). This study will characterize, using a within-subject cross-over design, the effects of a single session of aerobic exercise vs. a control condition on the sensitivity to stimuli preferentially activating mechano vs. heat-sensitive nociceptors of the skin vs. muscle, within vs. outside exercising body parts. The investigators hypothesize (1) that EIH will be greater in the exercise session compared to the control session, (2) that EIH will be greater at the local site compared to the remote site if local changes in nociceptive sensitivity contribute to EIH, and (3) that exercise will preferentially affect blunt pressure-induced pain if EIH involves specific changes in sensitivity of muscle nociceptors.

Conditions

• Healthy
• Men
• Adults

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Cycling exercise	Participants will complete an experimental exercise that will consist in 25 minutes of cycling between 60-80 Revolution Per Minute (RPM) on a cycle ergometer (CST BX40; Cardiostrong; Germany) at ≥ 70% of the Heart Rate Reserve (HRR).
BEHAVIORAL	Cycling control	The control condition will include an exercise design similar to the experimental condition except that the resistance will be kept at 25 W and the RPM below 50. The intensity of the exercise will be kept at minimal levels by ensuring that the heart rate does not increase \>25% from baseline.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-04-26
• Primary completion: 2023-10-01
• Completion: 2023-10-01
• First posted: 2023-07-27
• Last updated: 2025-04-25

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Belgium