Actively Recruiting
Exercise Induced Hypoalgesia in Pain-free Stroke and Healthy Populations: a Cohort Study
Led by Neuron, Spain · Updated on 2026-03-20
60
Participants Needed
2
Research Sites
30 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Exercise has shown multiple beneficial effects in both healthy and post-stroke populations. One of these is the acute reduction in sensitivity to painful stimuli, called exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH). This phenomenon has been studied since 1979 and has shown improvements in pain thresholds with both aerobic and resistance training in healthy, pain-free populations and different chronic pain conditions. Although there has been extensive research on EIH in healthy populations and those with chronic musculoskeletal pain, surprisingly little attention has been given to individuals with neurological pathologies. Chronic pain is found in more than 50% of patients after stroke, and 70% of affected individuals experience pain on daily activities. Reported prevalences of post-stroke pain (PSP) between different studies, but there is a general consensus that it is an underreported phenomenon. Patients with pain experience greater cognitive and functional decline, fatigue, depression and lower quality of life. Multiple factors contribute to PSP, and various approaches exist to treat all the variables influencing it. This study aims to compare the effects of exercise on pain perception in healthy individuals and stroke patients without pain, using the same cardiovascular training protocol, to better understand the mechanisms of EIH and its maintenance after stroke, ultimately aiming to improve the treatment of people with stroke.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Exercise Induced Hypoalgesia in Pain-free Stroke and Healthy Populations: a Cohort Study
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- For healthy participants: Age over 18 years
- Healthy participants must have no neurological damage
- Healthy participants must have no medical conditions that could affect the test
- For post-stroke participants: Age over 18 years
- Post-stroke participants must have ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke with onset more than 3 months ago
You will not qualify if you...
- Healthy participants with any medical condition affecting the test such as respiratory, cardiovascular, or metabolic diseases
- Healthy participants with pain lasting more than one week in the past three months
- Post-stroke participants unable to transfer or actively pedal
- Post-stroke participants with medical contraindications to cardiovascular training
- Post-stroke participants unable to follow instructions or communicate sensations during training
- Post-stroke participants with other neurological, cardiac, pulmonary, renal, or metabolic pathologies affecting the test
- Post-stroke participants with acute infection or fever
- Post-stroke participants who had neurosurgery within 6 weeks before the study
- Post-stroke participants with pain lasting more than one week in the past three months
- Post-stroke participants using beta-blockers, antidepressants, or medications that may alter heart rate measurements
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 2 locations
1
Neuron Madrid Río
Madrid, Madrid, Spain, 28045
Actively Recruiting
2
Neuron Nuevos Ministerios
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
A
Alejandro Herrera Rojas, Physical Therapist
CONTACT
A
Alfredo Lerín Calvo, Physical Therapist
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
DOUBLE
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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