Effects of Acute Exercise on Pain and Human Movement

The aim of this research project is to evaluate the effect of an acute exercise intervention on pain intensity and movement control. It also aims to investigate potential differences in movement control between patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain compared to healthy controls. All tests will be conducted at Dalarna University.

After the initial baseline tests, participants will be randomised to either acute exercise intervention group or to a control group not performing any intervention groups (both patients and controls will be randomised to intervention or control). If randomised to the control group, participants rests corresponding to the time it takes to perform the intervention (30 min), and then preform the post-intervention tests similar as the intervention group.

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria

for participants with chronic pain:

• Men and women, age 18-67 years,
• good ability to understand written and verbal information and instruction given in Swedish,
• chronic (>3 months) musculoskeletal pain or chronic widespread pain.

Inclusion criteria

for healthy controls:

• Men and women, age 18-67 years,
• good ability to understand written and verbal information and instruction given in Swedish.

Exclusion criteria

For participants with chronic pain

• chronic pain caused by malignancies or systemic diseases, other physical conditions that affects functional abilities and implies use of walking aid in-door,
• pregnancy after week 12, childbirth within the last 3 months or
• spinal surgery.

For healthy controls:

• chronic (>3 months) or acute pain of any cause,
• other physical conditions that affects functional abilities, and implies use of walking aids in-door,
• pregnancy after week 12, childbirth in the last 3 months or
• spinal surgery.