Impact of Aerobic Exercise on Pain Modulation in Healthy Adults

Enrolling by invitation · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Healthy Adult

In brief

Exercise-Induced Hypoalgesia (EIH) refers to reduced pain sensitivity following exercise, particularly in response to noxious stimuli. Various exercise modalities, including isometric, aerobic, and resistance training, contribute to this effect. Pain experienced during exercise may activate descending inhibitory pathways, leading to subsequent pain relief. Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM) is a behavioral measure of diffuse noxious inhibitory control (DNIC), where pain inhibits pain. It is proposed that pain within the exercising limb may serve as a conditioning stimulus, activating CPM. For instance, maximal handgrip exercise has been used to trigger CPM responses. In clinical settings, unpleasant physical therapy interventions like exercise, thermal modalities, and electrical stimulation may function through CPM mechanisms. CPM predicts EIH in both young and older adults, with painful exercise reducing pressure pain ratings across age groups. Isometric exercise has also been shown to decrease CPM in individuals with systemic EIH, suggesting shared mechanisms. Athletes exhibit higher pain thresholds and tolerance due to repeated exposure to high-intensity exercise. However, they demonstrate lower CPM activation, possibly as a compensatory response to chronic noxious input. This raises the question: Can repeated high-intensity aerobic exercise, perceived as painful, train the nervous system to enhance descending pain inhibition in non-athletes? While alterations in pain sensitivity related to analgesic-induced pain inhibition have been documented, the effects of continuous stimulation of central pain pathways via painful high intensity exercise, along with the mediating influence of psychosocial factors, remain underexplored. This study aims to investigate the central pain modulatory mechanisms (measured by QST) that have differential changes in participants who receive multiple sessions of high intensity aerobic exercise as an intervention compared to receiving single session. Additionally, the study will evaluate the impact of sociocultural factors, including optimism, pain catastrophizing, and marginalization on alterations in pain sensitivity.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07083219

Run by

University of Texas, El Paso

People needed

60

Starts

2025-08-15

Expected to finish

2026-12-01

Last updated by the study team

2025-12-10

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 50. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• pain-free
• between 18-50 years old.

You may not qualify if…

• Participants will not be excluded based on race or gender but will be excluded if they meet any of the following
• non-English speaking
• systemic medical condition is known to affect sensation
• regular use of prescription pain medication to manage pain
• current or history of chronic pain condition
• currently using blood thinning medication
• any blood clotting disorder such as hemophilia
• any contraindication to the application of ice or cold packs, such as uncontrolled hypertension, cold urticaria, cryoglobulinemia, paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria, and circulatory compromise
• involved in vigorous physical activities like heavy lifting, digging, aerobics or fast bicycling
• Any lung or respiratory condition that impairs exercise capacity, including but not limited to asthma.

Where it is running

• Department of Physical Therapy and Movement Science, University of Texas at El Paso — El Paso, Texas, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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