Investigation of Autonomic Stress Response Patterns in College Students With Varying Physical Activity Levels (ANS Stress/PA)

Beijing Sport University

Status: Begins enrollment this month

Conditions: Physical Activity Level; Cardiovascular; Autonomic Nervous System Activity

Treatments: Diagnostic Test: Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07360821

2025601H (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to investigate the differences in cardiovascular stress response patterns among individuals with various physical activity levels (sedentary controls and different types of athletes). By synchronously monitoring ECG, heart rate, skin sympathetic nerve activity (SKNA), blood pressure, and cardiac output, the study will characterize physiological dynamics during resting, orthostatic challenge, cold pressor stress, and maximal exercise.

Full description

Participants will be categorized into five groups based on their training background: sedentary, endurance, strength, technical, and traditional ethnic sports. The experimental protocol includes baseline measurements in lying, standing, and sitting positions, followed by a series of acute stress tests: a lie-to-stand orthostatic test, a slow breathing test, and a cold pressor test. Finally, participants will perform a ramp incremental exercise test on a cycle ergometer. Synchronous physiological data including HRV and SKNA will be collected to evaluate the dynamic regulation of the autonomic nervous system.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 30 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Healthy young adults aged 18-25 years

Body Mass Index (BMI) within the range of 18.5-23.9 kg/m 2

No history of systematic professional athletic training (for sedentary group) or confirmed training background (for athlete groups)

No exercise contraindications or history of cardiovascular, respiratory, or metabolic diseases

No family history of sudden cardiac death

Ability to understand the study protocol and sign the informed consent form

Exclusion criteria

History of limb sports injury within the past 6 months or unhealed fractures

Habits of smoking or chronic alcohol consumption

Presence of implanted electronic devices (e.g., pacemakers)

Clinical diagnosis of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety or depression

Recent use of medications affecting autonomic or cardiovascular function

Regular practice of meditation or ongoing psychotherapy

Irregular menstrual cycles (for female participants)

Peripheral neuropathy or other autonomic nervous system disorders

Trial design

60 participants in 4 patient groups

Sedentary Control

Description:

Healthy adults with minimal physical activity, screened via SBQ and IPAQ-S questionnaires as baseline controls

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing

Endurance Athletes

Description:

Long-distance runners or triathletes with over 1 year of regular aerobic training (e.g., 800m+ running, swimming).

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing

Strength Athletes

Description:

Athletes specializing in anaerobic/power-based training, such as weightlifting, wrestling, or sprinting.

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing

Traditional Ethnic Sports

Description:

Practitioners of mind-body exercises like Tai Chi or Baduanjin, emphasizing respiratory control and mild intensity

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing