Exploring how exercise affects pain sensitivity

Disentangling the Variability of Exercise-induced Hypoalgesia: the Role of Circulatory Compounds

This study is testing how exercise can change pain sensitivity in healthy young adults to see what factors are involved in this effect.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 90 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 30 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Université Catholique de Louvain (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Brussels, Belgium)
• Trial ID: NCT06967714 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates the mechanisms behind exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH), which is the reduction in pain sensitivity following physical exercise. It aims to understand how factors like the endocannabinoid system, kynurenic acid, and beta-endorphins contribute to this phenomenon. Participants will engage in exercise sessions while researchers assess changes in muscle nociceptor sensitivity and related circulating compounds. The study focuses on healthy individuals aged 18 to 30 and seeks to uncover the variability in EIH responses.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are healthy males and females aged 18 to 30 who are fluent in French or English.

Not a fit: Patients with neurological, cardiovascular, or other significant health conditions may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved pain management strategies for individuals suffering from chronic pain.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results regarding the effects of exercise on pain sensitivity, suggesting that this approach has potential.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Males, or females using hormonal contraception since ≥ 3 months.
* Aged between 18 and 30 years.
* Ability to provide written informed consent.
* Fluency in French or English.
* BMI between 17 and 30 kg/cm2.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Regular tobacco use (\> 1/month)
* Not willing or able to abstain from alcohol, recreational drugs, coffee, or tea from 24 hours prior to each experimental session.
* Not willing or able to restrain from physical activity \> 24h prior to each experimental session, and to be in a fasted state on the day of each experimental session.
* Any evidence for neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, inflammatory, endocrine, psychiatric, oncological, rheumatological conditions on direct questioning.
* Presence of any medical devices (e.g., cardiac pacemaker) implants or prothesis unless it is beyond discussion that these will not put the subject's safety during the study at risk and will not interfere with the results of the study.
* Any chronic pain condition or recent history thereof (i.e., within the preceding 2 years).
* Wounds or skin alteration on testing sites.
* Surgery \< 12 months.
* Any drug intake in the past 2 weeks including antibiotics, herbal medicines and other remedies except the following drugs that will be allowed up to 48 hours prior to the experiments: oral paracetamol or ibuprofen for a self-limiting condition (e.g. toothache, bruise). Oral antihistaminics and nasal aerosol and topical treatments for seasonal allergy up to 1 week before the experimental session.
* Any physical activity contraindication.
* Pregnancy.

Where this trial is running

Brussels, Belgium

• UCLouvain, Institute of neuroscience — Brussels, Belgium, Belgium (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: André Mouraux, MD, PhD, Professor

Conditions: Healthy, exercise-induced hypoalgesia, mechanisms, pain, exercise