Differences in Autonomic Recovery Between Physically Active and Inactive Women Following an Automated Massage Chair Intervention

April 10, 2026 updated by: Marilyn Li Yin Ong, Universiti Sains Malaysia

The Effect of Automated Electronic Massage Chair on the Autonomic Nervous System of Female University Student-Athletes and Non- Athletes

The goal of this study is to investigate whether an automated massage chair can improve the body's recovery system in healthy young women (aged 19-26 years) who are either physically active or inactive.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

  1. Does a single session in an automated massage chair improve heart rate variability (HRV) as an indicator of stress, relaxation, and recovery balance?
  2. Do individuals who are more physically active recover better after using a massage chair compared to those who are inactive?

Researchers will compare the physically active group to the physically inactive group to see if baseline physical activity levels influence the short-term recovery effects of the massage at different time points.

Participants will:

  1. Complete a standardized 20-minute automated massage chair session using a preset program at a self-selected moderate intensity.
  2. Have their heart rate data collected at baseline, prior to the massage session.
  3. Undergo follow-up heart rate data collection at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the session to monitor short-term recovery changes.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Background and Rationale Massage therapy is widely utilized to promote overall health, alleviate stress, and facilitate recovery following physical exertion. A primary mechanism through which massage aids recovery is by modulating the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS consists of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), which drives the "fight-or-flight" stress response, and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS), which governs "rest-and-digest" processes vital for tissue repair and cardiovascular recovery.In recent years, automated electric massage chairs (AEMCs) have surged in popularity as an accessible means to replicate therapist-delivered manual massage. Despite their widespread commercial use for health and wellness, research examining their physiological impacts-particularly on autonomic regulation-remains limited. Furthermore, while physically active individuals typically demonstrate greater autonomic flexibility and faster physiological recovery than inactive individuals, it is largely unknown if these baseline physical activity levels influence the body's acute response to an automated massage intervention.

Study Objective This study aims to evaluate the acute physiological effects of a single AEMC session on autonomic regulation among healthy female university students. By utilizing heart rate variability (HRV) as a non-invasive marker of sympathovagal balance, researchers will compare the physiological responses of physically active participants against those of inactive participants over a 72-hour recovery period.

Study Procedures Participants will be assigned to one of two groups based on their habitual physical activity levels: a physically active group (engaging in at least three supervised training sessions per week) and an inactive group (identified via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire as having low physical activity levels).

The study involves the following procedural sequence:

  1. Familiarization: Prior to the initial assessment, participants will complete a familiarization session to acclimate to the monitoring devices and the AEMC while it is both powered off and on.
  2. Baseline Assessment: On the experimental day, participants will be fitted with a wrist-worn heart rate monitor and a chest strap heart rate transmitter. Participants will sit in the powered-off AEMC for five minutes to capture baseline HRV data. During this time, they will be instructed to remain relaxed and minimize both body movements and communication.
  3. Intervention: Participants will be positioned in a reclined posture, with their upper bodies supported and legs and feet elevated to heart level. They will then undergo a 20-minute standardized "Recharge" program on the AEMC. This program delivers a continuous, moderate-intensity massage using kneading and rolling techniques focused on the back, neck, shoulders, forearms, and thighs. The intensity will be subjectively selected by the participant to a moderate level and adjusted via a Bluetooth-connected application to ensure suitable pressure.
  4. Post-Intervention Monitoring: Following the massage session, participants will be instructed to resume normal daily activities but must refrain from structured exercise for three days. Participants will return to the laboratory at 24, 48, and 72 hours post-session to have their HRV recorded. All follow-up HRV measurements will be recorded at the same time of day to control for circadian variations.

Data Analysis and Mechanisms Heart rate data will be synced and analyzed using specialized software to calculate frequency-domain HRV indices. The analysis will specifically look at the high-frequency (HF) component, the low-frequency (LF) component, and the LF/HF ratio. The HF component primarily reflects parasympathetic activity, whereas the LF component represents a mixture of sympathetic and parasympathetic influences. The LF/HF ratio serves as an index of autonomic balance, with lower values indicating a state of parasympathetic dominance and enhanced recovery capacity. Tracking these metrics across multiple time points will allow researchers to observe the timeline of short-term autonomic changes and determine if habitual physical activity primes individuals to derive greater physiological recovery benefits from automated massage chair therapy.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

20

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Malaysia
    • Kelantan
      • Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia, 16150
        • Exercise and Sports Science Laboratory

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Participants in the physically active group were university athletes from various sports (athletics, football, volleyball, and badminton) with at least one year of competition experience at the university level and who engaged in supervised training sessions at least three times per week. Physically inactive were those who did not meet these criteria and were identified as having low physical activity levels based on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Sham Comparator: Physically Inactive Group
Physically inactive participants undergo a single 20-minute treatment utilizing a commercial automated electric massage chair. For the duration of the intervention, subjects rest in a heavily reclined position, allowing the device to fully support the head and torso while keeping the lower extremities elevated.The massage chair is programmed to execute the manufacturer's specific "Recharge" protocol. This setting applies a combination of mechanical kneading and rolling motions across the upper and lower back, cervical region, arms, and thighs.To ensure consistency in perceived physical exertion, the mechanical force is customized per user. Researchers calibrate the physical pressure through a wireless application, relying on the participant's verbal feedback to lock in a self-reported "moderate" intensity rating prior to the 20-minute session. Heart rate variability is measured at pre, post 24-, post 48-, and post 72-hours massage intervention.
Device: Massage chair
The intervention utilized the Ogawa Master Drive AI 2.0 massage chair, which is an advanced, fully automated, electrically powered unit featuring Bluetooth-enabled control via the Ogawa Wellness app.
Active Comparator: Physically Active Group
Participants are active.The intervention consists of a single 20-minute standardized session in an automated electric massage chair. Participants are positioned in a reclined posture where the back of the chair is nearly parallel to the floor, with their hips and knees flexed at 90 degrees or more, and their legs and feet elevated to heart level.The session utilizes a preset "Recharge" program designed to deliver moderate-intensity massage therapy. The mechanical massage applies continuous, harmonized kneading and rolling techniques specifically targeting the back, neck, shoulders, forearms, and thighs.While the program is preset, participants subjectively self-select their perceived moderate pressure on a scale of 1 to 3. The massage intensity is then adjusted via Bluetooth using a paired application, ensuring the pressure is suitable and comfortable for each individual participant. Heart rate variability is measured at pre, post 24-, post 48-, and post 72-hours massage intervention.
Device: Massage chair
The intervention utilized the Ogawa Master Drive AI 2.0 massage chair, which is an advanced, fully automated, electrically powered unit featuring Bluetooth-enabled control via the Ogawa Wellness app.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Heart rate variability
Time Frame: Baseline, post 24-hours, post 48-hours, post 72-hours

The primary outcome measures changes in autonomic nervous system regulation using frequency-domain indices of Heart Rate Variability (HRV). HRV is a non-invasive marker of sympathovagal balance.Three specific metrics are evaluated using Kubios software:

  1. High-Frequency (HF) power: Measured in normalized units (0.15-0.40 Hz). HF reflects parasympathetic (vagal) activity, which drives rest, relaxation, and recovery.
  2. Low-Frequency (LF) power: Measured in normalized units (0.04-0.15 Hz). LF indicates a mixture of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system influences.
  3. LF/HF Ratio: Calculated as an index of overall autonomic balance. Lower values denote greater parasympathetic dominance and more efficient recovery.These HRV outcomes are recorded at baseline, 24, 48, and 72 hours post-intervention to track short-term physiological recovery.
Baseline, post 24-hours, post 48-hours, post 72-hours

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Universiti Sains Malaysia

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

April 23, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

July 1, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

April 18, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 13, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 10, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

April 14, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 14, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 10, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • USM/JEPeM/KK/24010104

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Participants indicated that their data should not be used for any purposes outside the current study, including future research or sharing with external agencies.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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