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Open Access 09-07-2022 | Original Article

Exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) in response to different exercise intensities

Authors: Fabian Tomschi, Dennis Lieverkus, Thomas Hilberg

Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 10/2022

Abstract

Purpose

Acute physical activity leads to exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of four different exercise intensities on EIH.

Methods

25 male (age: 24.7 ± 3.0) subjects underwent four different exercise sessions on a bicycle ergometer for 30 min each at 60, 80, 100, and 110% of the individual anaerobic threshold on separate days in a randomized crossover design. Before, as well as 5- and 45-min post-exercise, pain sensitivity was measured employing pain pressure thresholds (PPT) at the elbow, knee, and ankle joints as well as the sternum and forehead. Besides, conditioned pain modulation (CPM) was conducted using thermal test- and conditioned stimuli before, 5-, and 45-min post-exercise.

Results

A main time effect was observed regarding PPT at all landmarks except for the forehead with higher values observed 5 and 45 min post-exercise compared to the pre-values. Yet, no interaction effects occurred. CPM did not change in response to any of the intensities used.

Conclusion

EIH occurs 5 and 45 min after exercise regardless of the intensity used at the joints and sternum which might be explained by local pain-inhibiting pathways and probably to a limited degree by central mechanisms, as no hypoalgesia was observed at the forehead and no changes in CPM occurred.

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Title: Exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) in response to different exercise intensities
Authors: Fabian Tomschi
Dennis Lieverkus
Thomas Hilberg
Publication date: 09-07-2022
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology / Issue 10/2022
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-022-04997-1

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Exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH) in response to different exercise intensities

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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Please log in to get access to this content

Urinary extracellular vesicle as a potential biomarker of exercise-induced fatigue in young adult males

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