Study of Nerve Injuries and Physical Exercise

Plain-language summary

This study will explore if combining exercise with sensory training can help improve sensory function and reduce pain after an injury to the nerves in the arm and hand. The study will look at how exercise affects the BDNF protein (which helps nerves grow), how it impacts sensation, and how it might help manage pain. Research has shown that exercise is good for brain health, enhancing abilities such as focus, memory, and the ability to cope with stress. It also helps the brain release BDNF, which helps nerve cell growth and plasticity. Higher levels of BDNF might improve sensory function, but no previous study has investigated the combination of exercise and sensory training. Study aims to investigate: * if it is possible to use a physical exercise program (using an exercise bike) for people with nerve injuries. * how easy it is to recruit participants, how well they stick to the program * if exercise can change BDNF levels and VO2max (a measure of fitness), and how these changes might relate to pain and sensory. * if it's possible to run a bigger, more detailed study in the future and check if it could be helpful for patients. The researchers believe that combining exercise with sensory training could help reduce pain and improve sensation compared to traditional sensory training methods. Participants will: * perform 30 minutes of exercise on a stationary bike, twice a week, for 6 weeks at a moderate level of effort. After the exercise, they will do 5-10 minutes of sensory training, with additional exercises to practice at home. The sensory training will follow a standard program designed to help retrain the brain to process sensory information. * be subject to a blood sample Results will include sensory function, pain evaluation, patient reported outcome measures.

Who can participate

What they're measuring

Trial details