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| Name | Class |
|---|---|
| Universidad Rey Juan Carlos | OTHER |
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Exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) refers to the reduction in pain sensitivity following acute exercise. Although aerobic exercise has been shown to induce hypoalgesia in healthy individuals, it remains unclear whether the magnitude of this response differs between men and women.
This quasi-experimental study aims to evaluate sex differences in pressure pain thresholds following a standardized aerobic exercise protocol using a lower-limb cycle ergometer. Pressure pain thresholds will be assessed before exercise, immediately after exercise, and 30 minutes after exercise in healthy adults aged 18 to 65 years.
The findings of this study may contribute to improving individualized exercise prescription strategies based on sex differences in pain modulation.
Exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) is characterized by a transient reduction in pain sensitivity following acute physical exercise, measurable through pressure pain thresholds (PPTs). Aerobic exercise has been consistently shown to increase PPTs in healthy individuals through activation of endogenous pain inhibitory mechanisms, including opioid and non-opioid pathways.
However, the influence of biological sex on EIH remains unclear, and understanding potential differences between men and women could have important implications for exercise prescription in clinical and healthy populations.
This quasi-experimental study will include healthy male and female participants aged 18-65 years. Participants will undergo a single session of aerobic exercise on a lower-limb cycle ergometer at 70% heart rate reserve for 30 minutes.
Pressure pain thresholds will be assessed using a validated digital pressure algometer at:
Measurements will be performed at three time points:
The primary analysis will compare changes in pressure pain thresholds between men and women using ANCOVA models adjusting for baseline values.
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| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male participants | Experimental | Participants will perform a 30-minute aerobic exercise protocol on a lower-limb cycle ergometer at 70% heart rate reserve, including warm-up and cool-down periods. |
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| Female participants | Experimental | Aerobic exercise using lower-limb cycle ergometer. Participants will perform the same aerobic exercise protocol. |
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| Name | Type | Description | Arm Group Labels | Other Names |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aerobic exercise using cycle ergometer | Behavioral | Participants will perform a 30-minute aerobic exercise protocol using a lower-limb cycle ergometer at 70% heart rate reserve. The protocol includes:
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| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure Pain Threshold at Quadriceps | Pressure pain threshold measured using a digital pressure algometer at the quadriceps muscle. | Pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, and 30 minutes post-exercise |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure Pain Threshold at Lateral Epicondyle | Pressure pain threshold measured at a remote anatomical site using pressure algometry. | Pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, and 30 minutes post-exercise |
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Inclusion Criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
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| Name | Role | Phone | Extension | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Álvaro Reina-Varona, MSc. | Contact | (+34) 91 740 19 80 | 506 | alvaro.reina@lasallecampus.es |
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| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centro Superior de Estudios Universitarios La Salle | Madrid | Madrid | 28023 | Spain |
| PubMed Identifier | Type | Citation | Retractions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Awali, A., Nevsimal, R., O'Melia, S., Alsouhibani, A., & Bement, M. Hoeger. (2019). (305) The Contribution of Experimental Pain to the Sex Differences in Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia. The Journal of Pain, 20(4, Supplement), S50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpain.2019.01.462 Belavy, Daniel L., Oosterwijck, Jessica Van, Clarkson, Matthew, Dhondt, Evy, Mundell, Niamh L., Miller, Clint T., & Owen, Patrick J. (2021). Pain sensitivity is reduced by exercise training: Evidence from a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 120, 100-108. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.NEUBIOREV.2020.11.012 Cano-Climent, Antoni, Oliver-Roig, Antonio, Cabrero-García, Julio, Vries, Jolanda de, & Richart-Martínez, Miguel. (2017). The Spanish version of the Fatigue Assessment Scale: Reliability and validity assessment in postpartum women. PeerJ, 5(9). https://doi.org/10.7717/PEERJ.3832 Castañeda, Francisco Javier Rubio, Aznar, Concepción Tomás, & Baquero, Carmen Muro. (2017). Validity, Reliability and Associated Factors of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Adapted to Elderly (IPAQ-E). Revista Espanola de Salud Publica, 91. Chesterton, Linda S., Sim, Julius, Wright, Christine C., & Foster, Nadine E. (2007). Interrater Reliability of Algometry in Measuring Pressure Pain Thresholds in Healthy Humans, Using Multiple Raters. The Clinical Journal of Pain, 23(9), 760-766. https://doi.org/10.1097/AJP.0b013e318154b6ae Day, M. L., McGuigan, M. R., Brice, G., & Foster, C. (2004). Monitoring exercise intensity during resistance training using the session RPE scale. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 18(2), 353-358. https://doi.org/10.1519/R-13113.1 Faul, Franz, Erdfelder, Edgar, Lang, Albert-Georg, & Buchner, Axel. (2007). G*Power 3: A flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behavior Research Methods, 39(2), 175-191. https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03193146 Kinser, Ann M., Sands, William A., & Stone, M |
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Data regarding the principal and secondary outcomes: Pressure Pain Thresholds for the quadriceps and epicondyle sites.
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