Can stretching beat ice for Post-Workout pain?

NCT ID NCT07624032

First seen Jun 05, 2026

Summary

This small pilot study tested three ways to ease delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in 29 untrained adults. Researchers compared a special stretching technique called proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation, applying an ice pack, and a placebo (sugar water). They measured pain, range of motion, and strength before and after exercise. The goal was to see which approach might help reduce soreness after a workout.

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This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Clínica Universitaria Salus Infirmorum, Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca

    Madrid, Madrid, 28015, Spain

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (a stretching technique) and local cryotherapy (ice pack)

What this could lead to

If it works, this could point toward a simple, drug-free way to reduce muscle soreness after exercise.

What could go wrong

This is a very small pilot study with only 29 people, so results may not apply to everyone. The placebo group received sugar water, which might not be a perfect control.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Pain

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.