This Study Explores Whether Adding Natural Elements Like Plants and Sunlight to Indoor Gyms Makes Exercise Feel Easier, More Enjoyable, and Improves Performance. By Comparing Workouts in Nature-inspired and Plain Gym Settings, it Aims to Find Better Ways to Design Fitness Spaces in Cities.

Examining the Influence of Biophilic Design on College Students' Exercise Performance: A Crossover Study

The goal of this observational study is to examine whether exercising in a biophilic environment - a space designed to include natural elements like real plants, simulated sunlight, nature sounds, and outdoor views - can improve exercise performance and enjoyment compared to a standard indoor gym environment in male college students age 18-25 who have regularly exercised prior.

The main question it aims to answer is: "Can biophilic design enhance the physical and mental benefits of indoor exercise?"

Researchers will compare the two environments to see if there is any changes in exercise performance and enjoyment for each participant.

Participants will complete a treadmill fitness test in both settings to compare physical outcomes like maximal aerobic capacity, so the maximal amount of oxygen one can use during exercise, as well as perceived effort. After each treadmill test participants will be given surveys where they will be asked to evaluate their mood and enjoyment in that environment.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Biophilic Environmental Design; Traditional Exercise Design
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Exercise Environment

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 25
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Colorado
    • Fort Collins, Colorado, United States, 80521
      • Colorado State University Cardio Room (Moby Arena 134)

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Men between 18 and 25 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• Resting BP greater than 140/90
• Resting HR greater than 100 bpm
• BMI greater than 30 kg/m^2
• inability to exercise at moderate to vigorous intensities
• major illness/health complication in the past

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Biophilic Design; The exercise environment will be designed with nature elements, real and artificial plants, a landscape wall paper, simulated sunlight, and nature sounds.	Other: Exercise Environment; This intervention focused around the environmental design of the exercise room.
Experimental: Traditional Exercise Environment; The exercise environment will be designed like a traditional indoor gym setting. With a treadmill at the center and no other purposeful design elements.	Other: Exercise Environment; This intervention focused around the environmental design of the exercise room.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Maximal Aerobic Capacity (VO2Max)	This will be taken using a K5 metabolic cart measuring breath by breath	Testing Day 1
Maximal Aerobic Capacity (VO2Max)	This will be taken using a K5 metabolic cart measuring breath by breath	Testing Day 2
Rate of Perceived Exertion	Participants will rate their perceived exertion every minute during the test and recovery period on a 6-20 scale.	Every minute during testing day 1
Rate of Perceived Exertion	Participants will rate their perceived exertion every minute during the test and recovery period on a 6-20 scale.	Every minute during testing day 2
Mood and Enjoyment Survey	Participants will receive a paper survey on mood and enjoyment to complete.	Post Test Day 1
Mood and Enjoyment Survey	Participants will receive a paper survey on mood and enjoyment to complete.	Post Test Day 2
VO2 Plateau Duration	The time at which the participant is exercising at near maximal capacity.	Post Test Day 1
VO2 Plateau Duration	The time at which the participant is exercising at near maximal capacity.	Post Test Day 2

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Heart Rate	Taken using a Garmin HR chest strap.	During Testing Day 1 and 2

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Colorado State University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Kaigang Li, Colorado State University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 4, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 16, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): November 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 1, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 7, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): April 15, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): December 17, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 9, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Exercise; Mood; Biophilia; Environmental Design; Exercise Enjoyment
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Motor Activity
• Other Study ID Numbers: 6530

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No