MedTrace Logo

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

NCT06967714 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 90

Last updated 2025-05-21

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Physical exercise is increasingly recognized as an effective treatment for chronic pain. Studies in humans and animals have shown that a single session of exercise induces a reduction of sensitivity to experimental painful stimuli lasting up to 45 minutes. In a recent study conducted in our laboratory, we found (1) that this exercise- induced hypoalgesia (EIH) is mainly driven by local changes in muscle nociceptor sensitivity within exercising muscles and (2) that EIH is consistent at a group level but fluctuates across sessions within participants. The first aim of this project is to uncover the mechanism(s) that drive EIH by investigating whether processes that could contribute to an exercise-induced change in muscle nociceptor sensitivity match the fluctuating pattern of EIH. Specifically, we will assess the possible involvement in EIH of the endocannabinoid system (eCB), Kynurenic acid (KynA, a circulating myokine that transiently increases after exercise), and β -endorphins (βE). Using a sample of 90 healthy males and females aged 18 to 30 years, we will measure sensitivity to blunt pressure stimuli before, immediately after, and 45 min after a 25-min cycling exercise to assess muscle nociceptor sensitivity at exercising (rectus femoris muscle) and non-exercising (ventral forearm) muscles. Blood samples will be collected at these time-points to measure plasma levels of eCBs, βE, and KynA. In addition, the effect of sex on EIH is controversial: some studies report no differences between males and females, while others report a greater effect in males or in females. Therefore, a secondary aim of this study is to explore potential sex differences in the manifestation and underlying mechanism(s) of EIH.

Conditions

  • Healthy

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Exercise

25 min cycling exercise at 75% of hear rate reserve. Physical use of one upper-limb will be restricted with a sling.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Université Catholique de Louvain

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
30 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-04-14
Primary Completion
2026-04-01
Completion
2026-04-01

Countries

  • Belgium

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06967714 on ClinicalTrials.gov