Step-Up vs. Running Exercise at Matched Heart Rate Zones in Sedentary Males

May 12, 2026 updated by: Dicle Aras, Ankara University

Assessment of Cardiovascular, Autonomic, and Isometric Leg Strength Adaptations Following Step-Up Versus Running Exercise at Matched Heart Rate Zones in Sedentary Males

This study compares the effects of two aerobic exercise methods - loaded step-up exercise and treadmill running - on cardiovascular fitness, leg strength, heart rate variability, and recovery in sedentary adult males. Both exercise groups will train at 80-85% of maximum heart rate, three sessions per week for six weeks. A control group will not participate in any training. Measurements of estimated VO₂max, isometric leg strength, resting heart rate, heart rate variability indices, and heart rate recovery will be taken before and after the intervention.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

36

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

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Golbasi
      • Ankara, Golbasi, Turkey (Türkiye)
        • Ankara University Faculty of Sport Sciences

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

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Male, aged 18-40 years
  • Sedentary - no participation in structured exercise programs for at least 6 months prior to the study
  • Free from chronic diseases
  • No musculoskeletal injuries or surgical interventions within the last 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Female sex
  • Age below 18 or above 40 years
  • Participation in structured exercise within the last 6 months
  • Presence of chronic disease
  • Musculoskeletal injury or surgical intervention within the last 6 months

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: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Step-up Exercise Group (STP)
Participants performed loaded step-up exercises at 80-85% of maximum heart rate using a load of 20% body weight, 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks with progressive volume.
Behavioral: Loaded Step-Up Exercise
Step-up exercise performed on an adjustable platform at individually assigned heights (35 cm or 40 cm, based on participant height), with a load equal to 20% of body weight, at 80-85% of maximum heart rate, 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks with progressive volume increase.
Active Comparator: Treadmill Running Group (R)
Participants performed continuous treadmill running at 80-85% of maximum heart rate, 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks with progressive volume.
Behavioral: Treadmill Running
Continuous treadmill running at 80-85% of maximum heart rate, 3 sessions per week for 6 weeks with progressive volume increase.
No Intervention: Control Group (C)
Participants did not engage in any structured exercise training during the 6-week period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Estimated VO2max
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks
Estimated maximal oxygen uptake assessed via Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1
Baseline and 6 weeks
Isometric Leg Strength
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks
Maximum isometric leg strength measured using a Takei back-leg lift dynamometer
Baseline and 6 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Heart Rate Variability
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks
HRV indices including pNN50 and MeanRR measured via Polar H10 during supine rest
Baseline and 6 weeks
Heart Rate Recovery
Time Frame: Weeks 1 through 6
Time to recovery after and between sets of exercise sessions measured weekly across the 6-week intervention
Weeks 1 through 6

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Ankara University

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)

February 20, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

May 28, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

June 10, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 6, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 12, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 14, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 14, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 12, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • AUFS-2024-001

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

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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