Effects of the Q-Collar During High-Intensity Cycling Exercise

September 1, 2026 updated by: University of Northern Iowa

Cardiovascular, Cerebral, and Performance Responses to Q-Collar™ Use in a 5-km Cycling Time Trial

This study examined the effects of wearing the Q-Collar during high-intensity cycling exercise. Eleven recreationally trained male participants completed two 5-kilometer cycling time trials: one while wearing the Q-Collar and one without the Q-Collar. During and after each trial, researchers measured cardiovascular responses, brain oxygenation, blood lactate, perceived exertion, cognitive performance, and cycling performance. The purpose of the study was to determine whether wearing the Q-Collar affects physiological responses, cognitive function, or performance during high-intensity exercise.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This randomized crossover study examined the effects of Q-Collar use during high-intensity cycling exercise. Recreationally trained male participants completed two laboratory testing sessions in randomized order: a 5-kilometer cycling time trial while wearing the Q-Collar and a 5-kilometer cycling time trial without the Q-Collar. The Q-Collar applies mild bilateral compression to the internal jugular veins and is designed to increase cerebral blood volume.

During each trial, cardiovascular responses were assessed continuously, while prefrontal cortex oxygenation was measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Blood lactate and ratings of perceived exertion were assessed during exercise, and cognitive performance was evaluated before and after each cycling trial. Cycling performance was also recorded.

The study was designed to determine whether wearing the Q-Collar alters physiological responses to high-intensity exercise, particularly cardiovascular function and prefrontal cortex oxygenation, and whether these responses are accompanied by changes in cognitive or cycling performance. The crossover design allowed each participant to complete both conditions and therefore serve as his own control.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

11

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

  • United States
    • Iowa
      • Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States, 50614
        • University of Northern Iowa

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 participants
  • 18-35 years old
  • Recreationally trained
  • Provided written informed consent
  • Achieved a maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂max) classified as "good" or "excellent" during cardiopulmonary exercise testing

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Failure to meet the required "good" or "excellent" VO₂max classification during cardiopulmonary exercise testing
  • Outside age range

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: Crossover Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Q-Collar Then Control
Participants completed a 5-kilometer cycling time trial while wearing the Q-Collar, followed by a control 5-kilometer cycling time trial without the Q-Collar after a washout period of at least 72 hours.
Device: Q-Collar™
The Q-Collar™ is a wearable neck device that applies mild bilateral compression to the internal jugular veins. Participants wore the Q-Collar during a 5-kilometer cycling time trial. The device was individually fitted according to manufacturer guidelines and remained in place throughout the exercise trial.
Experimental: Control Then Q-Collar
Participants completed a control 5-kilometer cycling time trial without the Q-Collar, followed by a 5-kilometer cycling time trial while wearing the Q-Collar after a washout period of at least 72 hours.
Device: Q-Collar™
The Q-Collar™ is a wearable neck device that applies mild bilateral compression to the internal jugular veins. Participants wore the Q-Collar during a 5-kilometer cycling time trial. The device was individually fitted according to manufacturer guidelines and remained in place throughout the exercise trial.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Prefrontal Cortex Oxygenation
Time Frame: All throughout each 5-kilometer cycling time trial, approximately 10 minutes
Changes in prefrontal cortex oxygenated hemoglobin were continuously measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy during 5-kilometer cycling time trials performed with and without the Q-Collar. Data were evaluated across kilometer time points.
All throughout each 5-kilometer cycling time trial, approximately 10 minutes

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Cycling Time-Trial Performance
Time Frame: At completion of each 5-kilometer cycling time trial, approximately 30 seconds
Time in seconds required to complete the 5-kilometer cycling time trial was recorded for the Q-Collar and control conditions.
At completion of each 5-kilometer cycling time trial, approximately 30 seconds
Choice Reaction Time
Time Frame: At baseline, 5 minutes into exercise, immediately post-exercise, and 10 minutes post-exercise during each experimental visit, approximately 2 minutes at each time point
Choice reaction time was assessed using a computerized Stroop task. Reaction time and response accuracy were evaluated across the Q-Collar and control conditions.
At baseline, 5 minutes into exercise, immediately post-exercise, and 10 minutes post-exercise during each experimental visit, approximately 2 minutes at each time point
Heart Rate
Time Frame: During each 5-kilometer cycling time trial, approximately 10 minutes
Heart rate was continuously assessed using cardiac impedance and compared across the Q-Collar and control conditions.
During each 5-kilometer cycling time trial, approximately 10 minutes
Stroke Volume
Time Frame: During each 5-kilometer cycling time trial, approximately 10 minutes
Stroke volume was continuously assessed using cardiac impedance and compared across the Q-Collar and control conditions.
During each 5-kilometer cycling time trial, approximately 10 minutes
Cardiac Output
Time Frame: During each 5-kilometer cycling time trial, approximately 10 minutes
Cardiac output was continuously assessed using cardiac impedance and compared across the Q-Collar and control conditions.
During each 5-kilometer cycling time trial, approximately 10 minutes
Blood Lactate
Time Frame: Immediately following each 5-kilometer cycling time trial, approximately 1 minute
Blood lactate concentration (mmol/L) was measured from an earlobe capillary blood sample immediately following each cycling time trial.
Immediately following each 5-kilometer cycling time trial, approximately 1 minute
Rating of Perceived Exertion
Time Frame: Immediately following each 5-kilometer cycling time trial, approximately 30 seconds
Rating of perceived exertion was assessed using the Borg 6-20 scale immediately following each 5-kilometer cycling time trial.
Immediately following each 5-kilometer cycling time trial, approximately 30 seconds

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of Northern Iowa

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)

March 20, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

May 8, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

May 8, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 27, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 1, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

September 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

September 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 1, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • IRB-FY24-97

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

There is no current plan for public sharing of individual participant data; however, de-identified data may be considered upon reasonable request.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

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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