Effect of High-Level Headphone Sound Exposure on Exercise Responses in Young Healthy Individuals

April 24, 2026 updated by: ESRA PEHLIVAN, Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi

The Effect of High-Level Headphone Sound Exposure on Cardiorespiratory Responses and Perceived Exertion

This study will investigate the effect of high-level headphone sound exposure on cardiorespiratory responses and perceived exertion during a submaximal treadmill exercise test in young healthy individuals. Healthy volunteers aged 18 to 30 years will complete two exercise sessions under two different conditions: zero-sound and high-level sound exposure. Heart rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, and perceived exertion will be evaluated before, during, and after exercise.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Portable audio devices and headphones are widely used in daily life, especially by young individuals. High-level sound exposure may affect not only the auditory system but also cardiovascular and respiratory responses. During exercise, auditory stimuli may also influence perceived exertion.

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of high-level headphone sound exposure on cardiorespiratory responses and perceived exertion during submaximal treadmill exercise in young healthy individuals. The study will be conducted in the laboratory of the Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Hamidiye Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Health Sciences. A total of 38 healthy volunteers aged 18 to 30 years will be included. Each participant will complete both study conditions in random order. In the zero-sound condition, participants will wear headphones without music playback. In the high-level sound condition, participants will listen to the same music file at approximately 80-82 dB using the same headphone model and playback device.

Exercise testing will be performed according to the Ebbeling Single-Stage Submaximal Treadmill Walking Test. The two sessions will be performed on the same day with a 30-minute washout period between conditions. Outcome measures will include heart rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, and perceived exertion assessed with the Modified Borg Scale.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

38

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

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

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy young adults aged 18 to 30 years without known disease and without a regular exercise habit.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Healthy adults aged 18 to 30 years
  • Male or female participants
  • No regular exercise habit
  • Voluntary participation with written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any cardiopulmonary, neurological, or musculoskeletal disease
  • Any acute cardiovascular, respiratory, or musculoskeletal complaint
  • Infection, fever, dizziness, fatigue, or similar temporary health problem on the test day
  • Alcohol consumption within 12 hours before testing
  • Caffeine consumption within 3 hours before testing
  • Vigorous physical activity within 24 hours before testing
  • Inability to complete the exercise protocol or withdrawal from the study

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

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
High-Level Headphone Sound Group
Participants perform the submaximal treadmill exercise test under high-level headphone sound exposure (approximately 80 dB LAeq). Cardiopulmonary responses and perceived exertion are assessed during exercise.
Behavioral: High-Level Headphone Sound Exposure
Participants will listen to music at a predefined high sound level via headphones during the submaximal treadmill walking test. Sound intensity will be controlled using a decibel meter to ensure consistency across participants.(approximately 80 dB LAeq).
No-Sound Control Group
Participants perform the same submaximal treadmill exercise test under a no-sound headphone condition serving as the control. Cardiopulmonary responses and perceived exertion are assessed during exercise.
Behavioral: No-Sound Headphone Condition
Participants will wear headphones without any sound during the submaximal treadmill walking test. This condition serves as the control for comparison with the high sound exposure condition.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Perceived Exertion
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-exercise), at the end of each exercise stage, and immediately post-exercise
Perceived exertion will be assessed using the Modified Borg Scale (Borg Category Ratio Scale, CR10) under zero-sound and high-level sound conditions during submaximal treadmill exercise. The scale ranges from 0 to 10, where higher scores indicate greater perceived exertion.
Baseline (pre-exercise), at the end of each exercise stage, and immediately post-exercise
Heart Rate
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-exercise), at the end of each exercise stage, and immediately post-exercise
Heart rate recorded under zero-sound and high-level sound conditions during submaximal treadmill exercise.
Baseline (pre-exercise), at the end of each exercise stage, and immediately post-exercise

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Oxygen Saturation
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-exercise), at the end of each exercise stage, and immediately post-exercise
Oxygen saturation recorded under zero-sound and high-level sound conditions during submaximal treadmill exercise.
Baseline (pre-exercise), at the end of each exercise stage, and immediately post-exercise
Blood Pressure
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-exercise), at the end of each exercise stage, and immediately post-exercise
Systolic and diastolic blood pressure measured under zero-sound and high-level sound conditions.
Baseline (pre-exercise), at the end of each exercise stage, and immediately post-exercise

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi

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 (Estimated)

May 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

May 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

May 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 13, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 24, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

April 29, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 29, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 24, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Noise&Exercise1

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

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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