Effect of Hot Spring Therapy on Autonomic Nervous System and Exercise Performance During Altitude Training
23 de junho de 2026 atualizado por: 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.
Visão geral do estudo
Status
Concluído
Condições
Tipo de estudo
Intervencional
Inscrição (Real)
27
Estágio
- Não aplicável
Contactos e Locais
Esta seção fornece os detalhes de contato para aqueles que conduzem o estudo e informações sobre onde este estudo está sendo realizado.
Locais de estudo
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Macao, China
- Macao Polytechnic University
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Critérios de participação
Os pesquisadores procuram pessoas que se encaixem em uma determinada descrição, chamada de critérios de elegibilidade. Alguns exemplos desses critérios são a condição geral de saúde de uma pessoa ou tratamentos anteriores.
Critérios de elegibilidade
Idades elegíveis para estudo
- Filho
Aceita Voluntários Saudáveis
Sim
Descrição
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
Plano de estudo
Esta seção fornece detalhes do plano de estudo, incluindo como o estudo é projetado e o que o estudo está medindo.
Como o estudo é projetado?
Detalhes do projeto
- Finalidade Principal: Tratamento
- Alocação: Randomizado
- Modelo Intervencional: Atribuição Paralela
- Mascaramento: Solteiro
Armas e Intervenções
Grupo de Participantes / Braço |
Intervenção / Tratamento |
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Comparador Ativo: 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.
Outros nomes:
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Comparador Ativo: 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.
Outros nomes:
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Experimental: 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.
Outros nomes:
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O que o estudo está medindo?
Medidas de resultados primários
Medida de resultado |
Descrição da medida |
Prazo |
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Heart Rate Variability (HRV) - RMSSD
Prazo: 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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Medidas de resultados secundários
Medida de resultado |
Descrição da medida |
Prazo |
|---|---|---|
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HRV - SDNN
Prazo: 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)
Prazo: 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)
Prazo: 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
Prazo: 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.
Prazo: 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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Colaboradores e Investigadores
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Patrocinador
Publicações e links úteis
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Publicações Gerais
- 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.
Datas de registro do estudo
Essas datas acompanham o progresso do registro do estudo e os envios de resumo dos resultados para ClinicalTrials.gov. Os registros do estudo e os resultados relatados são revisados pela National Library of Medicine (NLM) para garantir que atendam aos padrões específicos de controle de qualidade antes de serem publicados no site público.
Datas Principais do Estudo
Início do estudo (Real)
10 de janeiro de 2026
Conclusão Primária (Real)
7 de março de 2026
Conclusão do estudo (Real)
8 de março de 2026
Datas de inscrição no estudo
Enviado pela primeira vez
14 de maio de 2026
Enviado pela primeira vez que atendeu aos critérios de CQ
19 de maio de 2026
Primeira postagem (Real)
27 de maio de 2026
Atualizações de registro de estudo
Última Atualização Postada (Real)
26 de junho de 2026
Última atualização enviada que atendeu aos critérios de controle de qualidade
23 de junho de 2026
Última verificação
1 de janeiro de 2026
Mais Informações
Termos relacionados a este estudo
Palavras-chave
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Outros números de identificação do estudo
- 202502AS100005
Plano para dados de participantes individuais (IPD)
Planeja compartilhar dados de participantes individuais (IPD)?
INDECISO
Descrição do plano IPD
The current research project has not yet been completed, and the data have not been publicly released.
After publication, sharing will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
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