Isometric ExerciseNCT07665086
The Role of Isometric in Individuals With Rheumatoid Arthritis
A study testing Exercise in people with Isometric Exercise and Pain, run by Zülal TATAR at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
The aim of this study is to investigate the acute effects of isometric exercise on pain modulation and muscle oxygenation in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Isometric Exercise, Pain, Oxygenation
- What is being tested?
- Exercise
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 66 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 11 Dec 2025to 11 Dec 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Eligibility Criteria:
- Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis
- Being between 18-65 years of age
- Volunteering to participate in the study
Who cannot join
- Having a neurological disease
- Having pulmonary or cardiovascular problems that may affect daily living activities
- Sensory system disorders
- Previous upper extremity surgery
- Having cognitive impairment
- Having an accompanying rheumatic disease
Show all 9Show fewer
- Fracture, dislocation, or surgical intervention in the hand/wrist region within the last 6 months
- Communication limitations that prevent following the study protocol
- Having an exercise history in the last six months
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: The Role of Isometric Exercise on Pain Modulation and Muscle Oxygenation in Individuals With Rheumatoid Arthritis
The aim of this study is to investigate the acute effects of isometric exercise on pain modulation and muscle oxygenation in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis.
- Conditions
- Isometric Exercise, Pain, Oxygenation
- Being tested
- Exercise
- Medical subject headings
- Pain
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
ExerciseOther
To determine isometric exercise intensity, a maximum repetition will be calculated individually using a handheld dynamometer. One maximum repetition will be defined as the highest value among the trials where participants squeezed the handheld dynamometer as hard as possible for 5 seconds. The average of 3 repetitions will be taken to determine one maximum repetition, with a 1-2 minute rest period between each repetition. 30% of one maximum repetition will be determined. The exercise will begin five minutes after this stage. During the exercise task, participants will squeeze the dynamometer at 30% of one maximum repetition for 3 consecutive minutes, adjusting the applied force as needed to maintain the desired strength level.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control Group | No intervention | Not described |
| Execise group | Active comparator | Not described Receives: Other: Exercise |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Pain Tolerance Assessment
Gradual pressure will be applied to the volar (palm side) region of the non-dominant forearm using a pressure gauge (initial intensity-0 kPa, rate-30 kPa/s, 3 repetitions, interval between stimuli-45 seconds). The maximum pressure that participants can tolerate will be recorded as the pressure is increased. The average of 3 consecutive measurements will be taken. The tip of the gauge will be shifted 0.5 cm between repetitions to avoid changes in skin sensitivity. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The VAS consists of a 10-cm horizontal line ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "the worst pain imaginable." Total scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater pain severity (worse outcome).
Measured: Day 1
Pressure Pain Threshold Assessment
Based on the modified limits method, a pressure algometer will be used to apply gradual pressure to the volar (palm-side) region of the non-dominant forearm (initial intensity-0 kPa, velocity-30 kPa/s, 3 repetitions, interval between stimuli-45 seconds). Participants will inform the investigator when they first perceive pain. The pressure pain threshold will be taken as the average of 3 consecutive measurements. The algometer tip will be shifted 0.5 cm between repetitions to avoid changes in skin sensitivity. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The VAS consists of a 10-cm horizontal line ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "the worst pain imaginable." Total scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater pain severity (worse outcome).
Measured: Day 1
Temporal Summation Measurement
Ten stimuli of pressure pain threshold size will be applied to the volar (palm side) region of the non-dominant forearm using a pressure algometer. The difference between the first and tenth stimuli will be recorded. The pain level during the first and tenth stimuli will also be recorded according to GAS. The difference will be calculated.
Measured: Day 1
Conditional Pain Modulation Assessment
A conditioning pressure stimulus will be applied to the non-dominant upper extremity, and the pressure pain threshold will be measured in the dominant upper extremity. The non-dominant hand will be immersed up to the wrist in a bucket of water at 37°C for 10 seconds to induce conditioning. The patient will then be asked to immerse their hand in water adjusted to 46°C for 30 seconds. This temperature has been used in many previous studies. During this time, the pressure pain threshold will be measured on the volar portion of the forearm of the contralateral extremity. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The VAS consists of a 10-cm horizontal line ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "the worst pain imaginable." Total scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater pain severity (worse outcome).
Measured: Day 1
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) - Pain
The VAS is a 10 cm long scale drawn horizontally or vertically, starting with "No pain" and ending with "Unbearable pain." The patient is instructed to mark a point on this line corresponding to the intensity of their pain. The distance from the lowest VAS level to the patient's mark is measured with a ruler and recorded in centimeters.
Measured: Day 1
Secondary outcomes (6)
Quantitative Sensory Tests
Current evidence for determining pain phenotypes (Kosek et al.) recommends performing quantitative sensory testing. Quantitative sensory testing is divided into static tactile mechanical fixation threshold, hot-cold pain threshold, static mechanical allodynia, dynamic mechanical allodynia, and vibration assessment All assessments will be performed on the patient's non-dominant upper extremity.
Measured: Day 1
Muscle Oxygen Saturation Measurement
Oxygen saturation measurement will be performed using the MOXY (Fortiori Design LLC., Minnesota, USA) device. MOXY is a medical device measuring 61x44x21mm and weighing 42g. It is an infrared measuring device that measures oxygen saturation and total hemoglobin in muscle capillaries. It has self-adhesive light emitting and reflected light sensors placed a few centimeters apart on the skin. These devices penetrate the tissue a few centimeters using light and various algorithms to provide information about peripheral oxygen saturation in the microcirculation. It is a system that takes infrared measurements with 4 separate LED lights, penetrating to a depth of 12 mm to 25 mm, and provides the average numerically. It is a non-invasive method. In this study, muscle oxygen saturation will be measured over a three-minute period.
Measured: Day 1
The Body Awareness Questionnaire
The Body Awareness Questionnaire is a questionnaire consisting of 18 statements divided into four subgroups (Changes in body processes, sleep-wake cycle, prediction of disease onset, prediction of body responses) designed to determine the level of sensitivity to normal or abnormal body composition. Participants are asked to rate each statement on a scale of one to seven. The questionnaire uses a total score for the rating. A higher score indicates better body sensitivity.
Measured: Day 1
ABILHAND Rheumatoid Arthritis Hand Function Questionnaire
The ABILHAND-RA questionnaire focuses on functional items that best represent hand activities. Manual dexterity will be assessed using the ABILHAND-RA inventory, which consists of 27 common hand-use-based activities. Each activity will be scored as follows: 0 = impossible, 1 = difficult, 2 = easy. Volunteers will be asked to rate the ease with which they perform daily living activities, regardless of which limb is used or the method employed.
Measured: Day 1
Pain Catastrophizing Scale
The Pain Catastrophizing Scale was used to assess feelings and thoughts related to pain. This scale consists of 13 items. Each question is scored on a 5-point scale (0: Never, 1: Somewhat, 2: Moderately, 3: Severely, 4: Always). The scale consists of 3 sub-sections: helplessness, magnification, and rumination. The total score ranges from 0 to 52. Higher scores indicate higher pain catastrophizing.
Measured: Day 1
The International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form
The International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form assesses energy expenditure over the past week in total METs. It consists of seven questions. The total score is calculated by including the total duration (minutes) and frequency (days) of walking, moderate-intensity activity, and vigorous-intensity activity. For an activity to be included in the total score, each activity must have lasted at least 10 minutes. The questionnaire calculates a score in "MET-minutes/week (MET-min/week)" using the minutes spent during the activity, the number of days per week the activity was performed, and the MET value specified in the questionnaire.
Measured: Day 1
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Jun 2026
- Study start11 Dec 2025
- Primary completion11 Nov 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion11 Dec 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Isometric ExerciseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 66 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Zülal TATAR
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Zülal TATAR, Pamukkale University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07665086
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Isometric Exercise
- Status last verified
- Dec 2025
- First submitted
- 18 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 30 Jun 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 30 Jun 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Role of Isometric Exercise on Pain Modulation and Muscle Oxygenation in Individuals With Rheumatoid Arthritis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07665086
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Isometric Exercise
- Conditions
- Isometric Exercise, Pain, Oxygenation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Enrolling by invitation
- Enrolment
- 66 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Zülal TATARUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 11 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 11 Nov 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 11 Dec 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 24 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The aim of this study is to investigate the acute effects of isometric exercise on pain modulation and muscle oxygenation in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control Group | No intervention | – |
| Execise group | Active comparator | Other: Exercise |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Eligibility Criteria:
- Diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis
- Being between 18-65 years of age
- Volunteering to participate in the study
Key exclusion criteria (9 listed)
- Having a neurological disease
- Having pulmonary or cardiovascular problems that may affect daily living activities
- Sensory system disorders
- Previous upper extremity surgery
- Having cognitive impairment
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| ExerciseTo determine isometric exercise intensity, a maximum repetition will be calculated individually using a handheld dynamometer. One maximum repetition will be defined as the highest value among the trials where participants squeezed the handheld dynamometer as hard as possible for 5 seconds. The average of 3 repetitions will be taken to determine one maximum repetition, with a 1-2 minute rest period between each repetition. 30% of one maximum repetition will be determined. The exercise will begin five minutes after this stage. During the exercise task, participants will squeeze the dynamometer at 30% of one maximum repetition for 3 consecutive minutes, adjusting the applied force as needed to maintain the desired strength level. | Other | Execise group |
Primary outcome
Pain Tolerance Assessment
Time frame: Day 1
Gradual pressure will be applied to the volar (palm side) region of the non-dominant forearm using a pressure gauge (initial intensity-0 kPa, rate-30 kPa/s, 3 repetitions, interval between stimuli-45 seconds). The maximum pressure that participants can tolerate will be recorded as the pressure is increased. The average of 3 consecutive measurements will be taken. The tip of the gauge will be shifted 0.5 cm between repetitions to avoid changes in skin sensitivity. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The VAS consists of a 10-cm horizontal line ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "the worst pain imaginable." Total scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater pain severity (worse outcome).
Pressure Pain Threshold Assessment
Time frame: Day 1
Based on the modified limits method, a pressure algometer will be used to apply gradual pressure to the volar (palm-side) region of the non-dominant forearm (initial intensity-0 kPa, velocity-30 kPa/s, 3 repetitions, interval between stimuli-45 seconds). Participants will inform the investigator when they first perceive pain. The pressure pain threshold will be taken as the average of 3 consecutive measurements. The algometer tip will be shifted 0.5 cm between repetitions to avoid changes in skin sensitivity. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The VAS consists of a 10-cm horizontal line ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "the worst pain imaginable." Total scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater pain severity (worse outcome).
Temporal Summation Measurement
Time frame: Day 1
Ten stimuli of pressure pain threshold size will be applied to the volar (palm side) region of the non-dominant forearm using a pressure algometer. The difference between the first and tenth stimuli will be recorded. The pain level during the first and tenth stimuli will also be recorded according to GAS. The difference will be calculated.
Conditional Pain Modulation Assessment
Time frame: Day 1
A conditioning pressure stimulus will be applied to the non-dominant upper extremity, and the pressure pain threshold will be measured in the dominant upper extremity. The non-dominant hand will be immersed up to the wrist in a bucket of water at 37°C for 10 seconds to induce conditioning. The patient will then be asked to immerse their hand in water adjusted to 46°C for 30 seconds. This temperature has been used in many previous studies. During this time, the pressure pain threshold will be measured on the volar portion of the forearm of the contralateral extremity. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The VAS consists of a 10-cm horizontal line ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates "no pain" and 10 indicates "the worst pain imaginable." Total scores range from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater pain severity (worse outcome).
Visual Analog Scale (VAS) - Pain
Time frame: Day 1
The VAS is a 10 cm long scale drawn horizontally or vertically, starting with "No pain" and ending with "Unbearable pain." The patient is instructed to mark a point on this line corresponding to the intensity of their pain. The distance from the lowest VAS level to the patient's mark is measured with a ruler and recorded in centimeters.
6 secondary outcomes
Quantitative Sensory Tests
Time frame: Day 1
Muscle Oxygen Saturation Measurement
Time frame: Day 1
The Body Awareness Questionnaire
Time frame: Day 1
ABILHAND Rheumatoid Arthritis Hand Function Questionnaire
Time frame: Day 1
Pain Catastrophizing Scale
Time frame: Day 1
The International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form
Time frame: Day 1
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 30 Jun 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Exercise in people with Isometric Exercise and Pain, run by Zülal TATAR at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: enrolling by invitation, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Jun 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Pain Tolerance Assessment (time frame: Day 1). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 30 Jun 2026.