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Recruiting NCT07379606

Effects of Moderate Exercise and Cyclic Sighing on Stress, Cognition and Physiological Markers in Young Adults

No phase Interventional Stress

For patients and families

In plain language

An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.

What is being studied
The protocol lists: Moderate-Intensity Physical Activity (PA), Breathing Training - Cyclic Sighing (CS).
Who it may be relevant to
Registry conditions: Stress. Basic parameters: 18 years — 35 years · All.
What needs checking
Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
Where it takes place
Poland
Next step
Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →

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Official title

A Comparison of Psychophysiological Effects Between Relaxation Techniques and Physical Exercise in Young Adults

Overview

This study investigates the effects of moderate physical exercise and cyclic sighing (breathing training) on stress, cognition, and physiological markers in young adults. It is a randomized cross-over trial with two interventions. Each participant will take part in two intervention sessions: 1. Moderate-intensity physical activity (PA): 15 minutes of stationary cycling at 65-75% of maximum heart rate (HRmax). 2. Breathing training (CS): 15 minutes of cyclic sighing, a technique involving inhaling, pausing briefly, taking a deeper breath, and exhaling slowly. A one-week washout period between sessions is planned to minimise carry-over effects and to ensure participants' physiological state is similar before the next session. During this week, participants will wear Polar Ignite wrist-worn devices to monitor physical activity and sleep. A total of 30 participants (you adults) will be enrolled. Measurements performed before and after each intervention include: * EEG using Emotiv EPOC Flex Gel (32-channel device): 2 minutes with eyes open, 2 minutes with eyes closed, during the interventions, and while performing cognitive test (N-back). * Heart rate variability (HRV) using the Polar H10 sensor. * SUDS - Subjective Units of Disress Scale for perceived stress. * N-back test for cognitive performance using Emotiv App. * Blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) and heart rate. * Pain threshold measured with a dolorimeter. * PANAS-SF - Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Baseline questionnaires completed by participants the day before the study: * PSS-10 - Perceived Stress Scale (Cohen, Kamarck, Mermelstein). * MAAS - Mindful Attention Awareness Scale * Psychological well-being - short version * Mini-COPE - Coping with Stress Inventory * Sleep quality and average sleep duration * Chronotype questionnaire (morningness-eveningness) * GPAQ - Global Physical Activity Questionnaire * Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index The study aims to understand how brief interventions like moderate exercise and breathing techniques affect stress, cognitive performance, and physiological responses in young adults.

Interventions

  • Behavioral Moderate-Intensity Physical Activity (PA)
    Participants perform 15 minutes of stationary cycling at moderate intensity.
  • Behavioral Breathing Training - Cyclic Sighing (CS)
    Participants perform 15 minutes of cyclic sighing (a breathing technique).

Primary outcome measures

  • Mean EEG spectral power in theta, alpha, low beta, high beta, gamma frequency bands during resting-state (eyes-open and eyes-closed) [Time frame: Baseline: immediately before intervention; Post-intervention: immediately after completion of the intervention period]
  • Heart Rate Variability (HRV) [Time frame: Baseline (average over 5-minute resting-state immediately before intervention); During intervention (average over entire session, periprocedural); Post-intervention (average over 5-minute resting-state immediately after intervention).]
Secondary outcome measures (8)
  • Mean EEG spectral power in theta, alpha, low beta, high beta, and gamma frequency bands during N-back task [Time frame: Baseline (during N-back task immediately before each intervention session, periprocedural); Post-intervention (during N-back task immediately after each intervention session, periprocedural)]
  • Mean EEG spectral power in theta, alpha, low beta, high beta, and gamma frequency bands during intervention session [Time frame: During intervention session (periprocedural, averaged over entire session)]
  • Perceived Stress measured with the Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) [Time frame: Baseline: immediately before each intervention session; Post-intervention: immediately after each intervention session]
  • Cognitive Performance (N-back) [Time frame: Baseline: immediately before each intervention session; Post-intervention: immediately after each intervention session]
  • Blood Pressure [Time frame: Baseline: immediately before each intervention session; Post-intervention: immediately after each intervention session]
  • Pain Threshold [Time frame: Baseline: immediately before each intervention session; Post-intervention: immediately after each intervention session]
  • Positive and Negative Affect measured with the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - Short Form (PANAS-SF) [Time frame: Baseline: immediately before each intervention session; Post-intervention: immediately after each intervention session]
  • Heart Rate [Time frame: Baseline: immediately before each intervention session; Post-intervention: immediately after each intervention session]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

  • male or female participants,
  • age 18-35,
  • without chronic somatic diseases,
  • no current episode of psychiatric disorder (no active depression, mania, or psychosis),
  • regular sleep schedule in the week prior to the study,
  • not taking psychotropic drugs or medications,
  • non-smoker,
  • not working nightshifts.

Exclusion criteria

  • consumption of alcohol or psychoactive substances the day before or on the day of the study,
  • intense physical activity less than 2 hours before the study,
  • consuming coffee, black tee, energy drinks less than 2 hours before the study,
  • contraindications to moderate-intensity physical activity on cycle ergometer (e.g., recent injuries),
  • contraindications to EEG (e.g., scalp skin conditions preventing proper electrode placement, hypersensitivity to conductive gels or pastes).

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: Yes

Study design

Allocation
Randomized
Model
Crossover
Masking
Open label
Primary purpose
Basic science

Study locations

Poland · 1 center
  • Poznan University of Physical Education — Poznan

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07379606 · 716/25

Primary sources (government registries)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗