Effects of Aromatherapy After Aerobic Exercise"

NCT07086495 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: BvuNES
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 45
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study aims to investigate the effect of aromatherapy using lavender oil on recovery speed and cardiovascular parameters in healthy athletes following aerobic exercise. Participants will perform aerobic exercise using the Bruce treadmill protocol and will be randomly assigned to either an aromatherapy group (inhaling lavender essential oil) or a control group (no aromatherapy). Heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, perceived exertion, and fatigue levels will be measured before and after exercise. The study seeks to determine whether aromatherapy contributes to faster physiological recovery and reduced fatigue following exercise.

Conditions

Sports Recovery; Sports Performance

Keywords

Aromatherapy; Post-exercise recovery; Complementary therapy; Athletic recovery

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Heart Rate Recovery

  Heart rate was measured using a fingertip pulse oximeter. Participants remained seated and still during the measurements to ensure accuracy. The device provided real-time heart rate readings, recorded manually by the researcher.

  Baseline, immediately post-exercise, and at 5 and 15 minutes after recovery

• Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure

  Blood pressure was measured with a calibrated manual sphygmomanometer and a standard stethoscope using the auscultatory method. All measurements were taken from the left arm, with the participant in a seated position, after at least one minute of rest.

  Baseline, immediately post-exercise, and at 5 and 15 minutes after recovery

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂)

  Baseline, immediately post-exercise, and at 5 and 15 minutes after recovery

• Rating of Perceived Exertion

  Immediately post-exercise and after 15 minutes of recovery

• Fatigue Severity Score

  Before exercise and after 15 minutes of recovery

Study Arms (3)

Aromatherapy Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this group performed aerobic exercise using the Bruce treadmill protocol. After completing the exercise, they were taken to a separate room where a diffuser had been running for 15 minutes, containing 3 drops of lavender essential oil in 100 ml of water. They inhaled the aromatherapy during a 15-minute recovery period while cardiovascular parameters were monitored.

Other: Aromatherapy

Placebo Group

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Participants in this group performed aerobic exercise using the Bruce treadmill protocol. After exercise, they were taken to a separate room where a diffuser had been operating for 15 minutes with only 100 ml of plain water and no essential oils. They rested in this environment for 15 minutes, during which their cardiovascular parameters were monitored. This arm aimed to control for the effect of the diffuser itself without the therapeutic component of lavender oil.

Other: Placebo Diffuser (No Essential Oil)

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this group performed aerobic exercise using the Bruce treadmill protocol. After the exercise, they rested in a standard environment without exposure to any diffuser or aromatherapy. Their cardiovascular parameters were monitored during a 15-minute recovery period, serving as the baseline comparison for evaluating the effects of aromatherapy and placebo.

Interventions

Aromatherapy OTHER

Participants inhaled lavender essential oil (3 drops in 100 ml water) via diffuser during a 15-minute post-exercise recovery period following the Bruce treadmill protocol.

Aromatherapy Group

Placebo Diffuser (No Essential Oil) OTHER

Participants were exposed to plain water vapor (100 ml of water without essential oil) via diffuser for 15 minutes during post-exercise recovery.

Placebo Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 12 Years - 14 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17)

You may qualify if:

• Aged between 12 and 14 years
• Actively engaged in organized sports training (minimum 2 times per week)
• Medically cleared to participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity
• No known cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, or metabolic conditions
• Provided informed assent and obtained written parental/guardian consent

You may not qualify if:

• Known allergy to lavender or any component of aromatherapy oils
• Use of medications that may alter cardiovascular responses (e.g., beta-blockers)
• History of cardiac disease, hypertension, or arrhythmia
• Acute or recent musculoskeletal injury (within the last 3 months)
• Acute upper respiratory tract infection during the assessment week
• Inability to complete treadmill exercise testing or follow instructions

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Bezmialem Vakif University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Bezmialem Vakif University

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Aromatherapy

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Phytotherapy; Sensory Art Therapies; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SCREENING
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 18, 2025
• First Posted: July 25, 2025
• Study Start: January 10, 2024
• Primary Completion: October 16, 2024
• Study Completion: November 10, 2024
• Last Updated: July 25, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)