Dataset Information

The effect of exercise intensity on exercise-induced hypoalgesia in cancer survivors: A randomized crossover trial.

ABSTRACT: Pain is experienced by people with cancer during treatment and in survivorship. Exercise can have an acute hypoalgesic effect (exercise-induced hypoalgesia; EIH) in healthy individuals and some chronic pain states. However, EIH, and the moderating effect of exercise intensity, has not been investigated in cancer survivors. This study examined the effect of low- and high-intensity aerobic exercise on EIH in cancer survivors after a single exercise session as well as a brief period of exercise training (2-weeks, three exercise sessions per week). Participants (N = 19) were randomized to low- (30%-40% Heart Rate Reserve (HRR) or high- (60%-70% HRR) intensity stationary cycling for 15-20 min. Pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were assessed over the rectus femoris and biceps brachii before and after a single exercise session and again after a short training period at the assigned intensity. Then, following a 6-week washout period, the intervention was repeated at the other intensity. After the first exercise session, high-intensity exercise resulted in greater EIH over the rectus femoris than low intensity (mean difference ± SE: -0.51 kg/cm² ± 0.15, Cohen's d = 0.78, p = 0.004). After a 2-week training period, we found no difference in EIH between intensities (0.01 kg/cm² ± 0.25, d = 0.00 p = 0.99), with comparable moderate effect sizes for both low- and high-intensity exercise, indicative of EIH. No EIH was observed over the biceps brachii of the arm at either low or high intensity. Low-intensity exercise training may be a feasible option to increase pain thresholds in cancer survivors.

SUBMITTER: Clifford BK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8488554 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundAcute physical activity often induces an acute reduction in pain sensitivity known as exercise induced hypoalgesia (EIH). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a high intensity functional training (HIFT) on EIH compared to a control session.Methods50 (age: 26.0 ± 2.7; 23 female) participants successfully conducted this study consisting of a pre-experimental test as well as a 12-minute HIFT (body-weight exercises) and a 12-minute control (supervised breathing) session in a randomized crossover design. Pre and post, pressure pain thresholds (PPT) were measured at the ankles, knees, elbows, and forehead.ResultsThe HIFT resulted in a relative maximum and average heart rate of 96.2% (± 3.6%) and 91.1% (± 4.2%), respectively, and maximum and average RPE values of 19.1 (± 1.2) and 16.2 (± 1.4), respectively. Results reveal a significant 'Intervention' × 'Time point' interaction (p < 0.001) for PPT (pooled for one average value) with hypoalgesia observed following the HIFT (p < 0.001; pre: 56.0 ± 16.8, post: 61.6 ± 19.0 [Newton]) and no change following the control (p = 0.067; pre: 56.6 ± 18.4, post: 55.3 ± 18.9 [Newton]). Further, a significant 'Time' × 'Intervention' × 'Landmark' interaction effect (p = 0.024) is observed and all landmarks showed significant hypoalgesia following HIFT (p < 0.01), except for the right elbow and forehead. Following control, no hypoalgesia was observed at any landmark. Analysing male and female participants separately, it was observed that EIH occured only in men.ConclusionA HIFT using bodyweight exercises reduces pain sensitivity. Hence, combining strength and aerobically demanding exercises in a short but high intensity manner, as done in HIFT, can be seen as a usable tool to induce hypoalgesia. Yet, these results were observed only in male participants, necessitating future sex-specific research.Trial registrationDRKS00034391, retrospectively registered on the 4th of June 2024.

Project description:BackgroundMany breast cancer survivors (BCS) report deficits in cognitive function. Physical activity (PA) has been associated with better processing speed and memory in healthy adults and thus may be a useful method for improving cognition in BCS. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an acute bout of PA on processing speed and spatial working memory in a sample of BCS.MethodsUsing a repeated measures, crossover design, BCS [N = 27; Mage (SD) = 49.11(8.05)] completed two sessions in counterbalanced order: 30 min of moderate-intensity treadmill walking and 30 min of seated rest. Women completed cognitive tasks immediately before and after each session.ResultsWithin-subjects repeated measures analyses of variance revealed a significant time by session effect for processing speed reaction time [F (1,25) = 5.02, p = .03, η2 = 0.17]. This interaction was driven by significantly reduced reaction time (e.g., faster response) post-exercise and no change post-rest. Further between-subjects analyses indicated a significant time by session by moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) split [F (1,25) = 5.23, p = .03, η2 = 0.17], such that women who engaged in ≥45 min of average daily MVPA reduced their reaction time post-exercise (p = .01) and increased RT post-rest (p = .06). Time by session effects for spatial working memory 3-item accuracy and 4-item reaction time trended towards significance, p = 0.08 and p = 0.10, respectively, again driven by better performance post-exercise.ConclusionsThe moderate effect of acute exercise on domains of memory and processing speed in BCS is encouraging. Cancer-related cognitive impairment remains largely misunderstood; however, the results from the present study offer preliminary evidence for the positive relationship between acute exercise and cognition in BCS.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02592070 . Registered 30 October 2015. Retroactively registered.

Dataset Information

The effect of exercise intensity on exercise-induced hypoalgesia in cancer survivors: A randomized crossover trial.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets