Effect of Hot Spring Therapy on Autonomic Nervous System and Exercise Performance During Altitude Training
23. juni 2026 oppdatert av: Ziyue Ou, Macao Polytechnic University
A Randomized Controlled Trial to Investigate the Effects of Balneotherapy on Cardiac Autonomic Regulation and Exercise Performance in Healthy Adolescents Undergoing Real 1600-meter Altitude Training and Athlete Training.
This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of balneotherapy (hot spring bathing) on cardiac autonomic nervous system function and exercise performance in healthy athletes undergoing high-altitude training.
Participants will be randomly assigned to the intervention group (receiving hot spring baths three times per week (38°C, 20 minutes) combined with high-altitude training), the control group (receiving routine recovery protocols combined with high-altitude training), or the hot water immersion group (receiving hot water baths three times per week (38°C, 20 minutes) combined with high-altitude training).
Primary outcome measures include heart rate variability (HRV) indices and exercise performance indicators.
Secondary outcomes include blood lactate, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), and subjective fatigue.
These findings may provide evidence for non-pharmacological interventions to enhance high-altitude training adaptation and exercise recovery.
Studieoversikt
Status
Fullført
Studietype
Intervensjonell
Registrering (Faktiske)
27
Fase
- Ikke aktuelt
Kontakter og plasseringer
Denne delen inneholder kontaktinformasjon for de som utfører studien, og informasjon om hvor denne studien blir utført.
Studiesteder
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Macao, Kina
- Macao Polytechnic University
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Deltakelseskriterier
Forskere ser etter personer som passer til en bestemt beskrivelse, kalt kvalifikasjonskriterier. Noen eksempler på disse kriteriene er en persons generelle helsetilstand eller tidligere behandlinger.
Kvalifikasjonskriterier
Alder som er kvalifisert for studier
- Barn
Tar imot friske frivillige
Ja
Beskrivelse
Inclusion Criteria:
- Male or female aged 11-17years
- Regular endurance training (≥3 sessions/week) for ≥2 years
- No history of altitude exposure >2000m in the past 3 months
- No contraindications to hot water immersion (e.g., uncontrolled hypertension, severe cardiovascular disease, open wounds, pregnancy)
- Ability to provide written informed consent- Willingness to abstain from other recovery modalities (e.g., massage, cryotherapy, compression garments) during the study period
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, or endocrine disorders
- Current use of medications affecting autonomic function (e.g., beta-blockers, anticholinergics)- History of syncope or heat intolerance
- Acute musculoskeletal injury within the past 6 months- Regular use of sauna, hot tub, or spa within the past month
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding (for female participants)- Shift work or trans-meridian travel within 2 weeks prior to baseline assessment
- Alcohol consumption >14 units/week or smoking
Studieplan
Denne delen gir detaljer om studieplanen, inkludert hvordan studien er utformet og hva studien måler.
Hvordan er studiet utformet?
Designdetaljer
- Primært formål: Behandling
- Tildeling: Randomisert
- Intervensjonsmodell: Parallell tildeling
- Masking: Enkelt
Våpen og intervensjoner
Deltakergruppe / Arm |
Intervensjon / Behandling |
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Aktiv komparator: Natural Recovery Group
Control group participants will undergo the same altitude training protocol (altitude 1600 meters) for 4 weeks.
After each training session, participants will receive standard recovery procedures, including 20 minutes of passive rest in a thermoneutral environment (room temperature 24°C), supplemented with mild hydration and self-selected stretching.
No hydrothermal intervention will be provided.
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Control group participants will undergo the same altitude training protocol (altitude 1600 meters) for 4 weeks.
After each training session, participants will receive standard recovery procedures, including 20 minutes of passive rest in a thermoneutral environment (room temperature 24°C), supplemented with mild hydration and self-selected stretching.
No hydrothermal intervention will be provided.
Andre navn:
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Aktiv komparator: Hot water immersion group
The hot water immersion group will undergo a 4-week altitude training at 1600 meters above sea level.
Subjects will receive a 20-minute hot water immersion (daily tap water, 38°C±1°C) in a standardized indoor hot spring facility.
The immersion protocol involves soaking the body below the chest for 20 minutes, followed by a 10-minute rest before leaving the facility.
Three times per week.
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The hot water immersion group will undergo a 4-week altitude training at 1600 meters above sea level.
Subjects will receive a 20-minute hot water immersion (daily tap water, 38°C±1°C) in a standardized indoor hot spring facility.
The immersion protocol involves soaking the body below the chest for 20 minutes, followed by a 10-minute rest before leaving the facility.
Three times per week.
Andre navn:
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Eksperimentell: Hot Spring Immersion Group
The hot spring immersion group will undergo a 4-week high-altitude training at an altitude of 1600 meters.
Subjects will receive a 20-minute hot spring therapy (natural hot spring water, 38°C ± 1°C) in a standardized indoor hot spring facility.
The immersion protocol involves soaking the body below the chest for 20 minutes, followed by a 10-minute rest before leaving the facility.
Three times per week.
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The hot spring immersion group will undergo a 4-week high-altitude training at an altitude of 1600 meters.
Subjects will receive a 20-minute hot spring therapy (natural hot spring water, 38°C ± 1°C) in a standardized indoor hot spring facility.
The immersion protocol involves soaking the body below the chest for 20 minutes, followed by a 10-minute rest before leaving the facility.
Three times per week.
Andre navn:
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Hva måler studien?
Primære resultatmål
Resultatmål |
Tiltaksbeskrivelse |
Tidsramme |
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Heart Rate Variability (HRV) - RMSSD
Tidsramme: Baselines were measured at the formal start of the experiment, at night during the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th weeks (post-intervention) after ascending the plateau, and post-tests were conducted one week after descending the plateau.
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Root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) between normal heartbeats, measured from a 5-minute seated ECG recording in a quiet, temperature-controlled (22-24°C) room after 15 minutes of rest.
A higher RMSSD value indicates stronger parasympathetic activity.
Unit: milliseconds (ms).
Baseline, Week 2, Week 3 (post-intervention).
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Baselines were measured at the formal start of the experiment, at night during the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th weeks (post-intervention) after ascending the plateau, and post-tests were conducted one week after descending the plateau.
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Sekundære resultatmål
Resultatmål |
Tiltaksbeskrivelse |
Tidsramme |
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HRV - SDNN
Tidsramme: Baselines were measured at the formal start of the experiment, at night during the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th weeks (post-intervention) after ascending the plateau, and post-tests were conducted one week after descending the plateau.
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Standard deviation of NN intervals (normal-to-normal R-R intervals), reflecting overall autonomic modulation.
Unit: milliseconds (ms).
Baseline, Week 2, Week 3, Week4, post-tests
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Baselines were measured at the formal start of the experiment, at night during the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th weeks (post-intervention) after ascending the plateau, and post-tests were conducted one week after descending the plateau.
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Peripheral Oxygen Saturation (SpO2)
Tidsramme: one month.
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Resting peripheral oxygen saturation measured via fingertip pulse oximeter after 10 minutes of seated rest.
Unit: percentage (%)
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one month.
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Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE)
Tidsramme: one month.
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Borg 6-20 scale rating of perceived exertion recorded immediately after each training session.
Higher scores indicate greater subjective effort.
Unit: score (6-20).
Daily during intervention
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one month.
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Maximum oxygen uptake
Tidsramme: The baseline measurement was taken before the official start of the experiment, and the post-test was conducted one week after descending from the plateau.
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Testing maximum oxygen uptake on a rowing ergometer combined with a cardiopulmonary function tester.
Protocol: Using a graded incremental protocol to test maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max).
Units: mL·kg-1 ·min-1.
Baseline, Week 5.
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The baseline measurement was taken before the official start of the experiment, and the post-test was conducted one week after descending from the plateau.
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30-second anaerobic power.
Tidsramme: The tests are scheduled before entering the plateau (baseline), during the 4th week of plateau training, and 1 week after leaving the plateau.
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Perform a 30-s all-out test on a rowing ergometer.
Protocol: sprint at maximum effort to measure the 30-second average power.
Record power.
Units: watt.
Baseline, Week 4，1 week after altitude training.
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The tests are scheduled before entering the plateau (baseline), during the 4th week of plateau training, and 1 week after leaving the plateau.
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Samarbeidspartnere og etterforskere
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Sponsor
Publikasjoner og nyttige lenker
Den som er ansvarlig for å legge inn informasjon om studien leverer frivillig disse publikasjonene. Disse kan handle om alt relatert til studiet.
Generelle publikasjoner
- Laukkanen T, Khan H, Zaccardi F, Laukkanen JA. Association between sauna bathing and fatal cardiovascular and all-cause mortality events. JAMA Intern Med. 2015 Apr;175(4):542-8. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.8187.
- Stanley J, Peake JM, Buchheit M. Consecutive days of cold water immersion: effects on cycling performance and heart rate variability. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2013 Feb;113(2):371-84. doi: 10.1007/s00421-012-2445-2. Epub 2012 Jul 3.
- Buchheit M, Simpson BM, Garvican-Lewis LA, Hammond K, Kley M, Schmidt WF, Aughey RJ, Soria R, Sargent C, Roach GD, Claros JC, Wachsmuth N, Gore CJ, Bourdon PC. Wellness, fatigue and physical performance acclimatisation to a 2-week soccer camp at 3600 m (ISA3600). Br J Sports Med. 2013 Dec;47 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):i100-6. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2013-092749.
- Jdidi H, Dugue B, de Bisschop C, Dupuy O, Douzi W. The effects of cold exposure (cold water immersion, whole- and partial- body cryostimulation) on cardiovascular and cardiac autonomic control responses in healthy individuals: A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression. J Therm Biol. 2024 Apr;121:103857. doi: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2024.103857. Epub 2024 Apr 18.
- Michalsen A, Ludtke R, Buhring M, Spahn G, Langhorst J, Dobos GJ. Thermal hydrotherapy improves quality of life and hemodynamic function in patients with chronic heart failure. Am Heart J. 2003 Oct;146(4):728-33. doi: 10.1016/S0002-8703(03)00314-4.
Studierekorddatoer
Disse datoene sporer fremdriften for innsending av studieposter og sammendragsresultater til ClinicalTrials.gov. Studieposter og rapporterte resultater gjennomgås av National Library of Medicine (NLM) for å sikre at de oppfyller spesifikke kvalitetskontrollstandarder før de legges ut på det offentlige nettstedet.
Studer hoveddatoer
Studiestart (Faktiske)
10. januar 2026
Primær fullføring (Faktiske)
7. mars 2026
Studiet fullført (Faktiske)
8. mars 2026
Datoer for studieregistrering
Først innsendt
14. mai 2026
Først innsendt som oppfylte QC-kriteriene
19. mai 2026
Først lagt ut (Faktiske)
27. mai 2026
Oppdateringer av studieposter
Sist oppdatering lagt ut (Faktiske)
26. juni 2026
Siste oppdatering sendt inn som oppfylte QC-kriteriene
23. juni 2026
Sist bekreftet
1. januar 2026
Mer informasjon
Begreper knyttet til denne studien
Ytterligere relevante MeSH-vilkår
Andre studie-ID-numre
- 202502AS100005
Plan for individuelle deltakerdata (IPD)
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IPD-planbeskrivelse
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After publication, sharing will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
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