Key result
Six weeks of moderate-intensity continuous training increased lower body pressure pain thresholds more than high-intensity interval training in overweight men (p=0.009, r=0.54 for rectus femoris).
Why the study?
Does high-intensity interval training compared to moderate-intensity continuous training improve pressure pain thresholds in overweight men?
RCT (n=28)
Does high-intensity interval training compared to moderate-intensity continuous training improve pressure pain thresholds in overweight men?
Effect estimate: r = 0.54
p-value: p=0.009
Six weeks of moderate-intensity continuous training, but not high-intensity interval training, increased pressure pain threshold in the lower body of overweight men.
Moderate continuous training may raise pain thresholds more than interval training in overweight men; hypothesis-generating and needs confirmation in larger trials.
PURPOSE: To investigate the chronic and acute effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on pressure pain thresholds (PPT) in overweight men. METHODS: Twenty-eight participants performed stationary cycling exercise three times per week for 6 weeks. Participants were randomly allocated to HIIT (10 × 1-min intervals at 90% peak heart rate) or MICT (30 min at 65-75% peak heart rate). PPTs were assessed over the rectus femoris, tibialis anterior and upper trapezius before and after the 6-week training programme (chronic effect) as well as before and after the first, middle and final exercise sessions (acute effect). RESULTS: For chronic exercise, PPTs increased more after MICT compared to HIIT over the rectus femoris (p = 0.009, effect size r = 0.54) and tibialis anterior (p = 0.012, r = 0.54), but not the trapezius (p = 0.399, r = 0.29). The effect of acute exercise on PPT was more varied and ranged from moderate hypoalgesia to moderate hyperalgesia. Overall, however, there was no consistent change in PPT after acute exercise for HIIT or MICT (p ≥ 0.231, r ≥ -0.31 and ≤0.31). CONCLUSION: Six weeks of MICT cycling (chronic exercise) increased PPT for the lower body, but not upper body, in overweight men, whereas HIIT did not provide any hypoalgesic effect for chronic exercise. The acute effect of exercise on PPT was highly variable and negligible overall. SIGNIFICANCE: This study shows that aerobic training increases pressure pain threshold in pain-free adults. This effect was observed only for MICT over-exercised muscles, implying intensity- and site-specific effects of exercise training on pain threshold.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Håkansson et al. (2018) conducted an RCT in Overweight (n=28). High-intensity interval training (HIIT) vs. Moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) was evaluated on Chronic change in pressure pain threshold over the rectus femoris (r = 0.54, p=0.009). Six weeks of moderate-intensity continuous training increased lower body pressure pain thresholds more than high-intensity interval training in overweight men (p=0.009, r=0.54 for rectus femoris).
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: