Postexercise Hot-Water Immersion on Exercise Performance in Hypoxia

Nipissing University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Exercise Training; Heat Exposure

Treatments: Other: Control Group; Other: Post-Exercise Hot Water Immersion

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06672614

NUREB # 103807

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of 5 days post-exercise hot water immersion on exercise performance at simulated altitude.

Full description

Human performance is compromised at altitude due to a lower partial pressure of oxygen and subsequent reductions in the convective transport of oxygen to tissue. Long-term acclimation to attitude incurs physiological adaptations that result in a near return to sea-level performance; however, the time required (~2 weeks) for such adaptations is often logistically challenging for athletes, military personnel or other individuals who reside at sea level. Recent research suggests that physiological acclimation to heat stress (i.e., heat acclimation) and altitude (i.e., hypoxia) share similar cellular adaptations, namely an up-regulation of Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) and various heat shock proteins. Therefore, it is hypothesized that heat acclimation may provide physiological protection from reduced oxygen transport to the tissue and enhance performance at altitude. This cross-tolerance model is supported by traditional heat acclimation protocols (i.e., submaximal exercise in hot ambient temperature); however, it has not been tested with passive exposure to heat stress through post-exercise hot water immersion.

Enrollment: 20 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 50 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Physically active (minimum of 90 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week)

Exclusion criteria

• Cardiovascular disease
• resident of >1500 m above sea-level in the past year;
• history of fainting

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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20 participants in 2 patient groups

Post-Exercise Hot Water Immersion

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will cycle for 60 minutes at 50% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) followed by 30 minutes post-exercise hot water immersion (40oC) for 5 consecutive days.

Treatment:

Other: Post-Exercise Hot Water Immersion

Control group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants will cycle for 60 minutes at 50% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max); however, there will be not water immersion following exercise.

Treatment:

Other: Control Group