High-Intensity Interval Training Across Exercise Environments: Acute Effects on Physiological Stress, Cardiovascular Responses, Executive Function, and Psychological Experience

NCT07488715 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 102772025RT309
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 25
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial utilizing a randomized crossover design)is to explore the modulating effects of different exercise environments （green parks, outdoor athletic tracks, and indoor settings) on acute responses to High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). It aims to determine if environmental factors can optimize an individual's stress regulation, cognitive improvement, and psychological exercise experience. The study involves 25 healthy full-time college students aged 18 to 25. The main questions it aims to answer are：

1. 1.Are there significant differences in physiological stress (e.g., salivary cortisol, HRV) and cardiovascular responses when performing HIIT in different exercise environments (indoor, track, park)?
2. 2.How does the exercise environment influence executive function (inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility) and subjective psychological experiences (e.g., emotional state, enjoyment, and exercise motivation) following HIIT? Researchers will compare the performance of participants across three conditions-Green Park (natural environment), Outdoor Athletic Track (conventional outdoor environment), and Indoor Venue (artificial environment)-to identify the modulating effects of different environments on exercise outcomes.

Conditions

Sport Participation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Salivary Cortisol Concentration

  Administered at baseline (pre-exercise) and post-exercise.

Secondary Outcomes (10)

• Change in Inhibitory Control Assessed by the Stroop Task

  Administered at baseline (pre-exercise) and post-exercise.

• Change in Cognitive Flexibility Assessed by the More-odd-shifting Task

  Baseline (pre-exercise) and 20 minutes post-exercise

• Change in Heart Rate Variability (HRV)

  20 minutes pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, 5 minutes post-exercise, 10 minutes post-exercise, and 20 minutes post-exercise

• Change in Blood Pressure

  20 minutes pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, 5 minutes post-exercise, 10 minutes post-exercise, and 20 minutes post-exercise

• Change in Heart Rate

  20 minutes pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, 5 minutes post-exercise, 10 minutes post-exercise, and 20 minutes post-exercise

Study Arms (3)

indoor Environment

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will complete a single session of jump-rope High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) in a controlled indoor sports venue.

Other: HIIT in Indoor Environment

Outdoor Athletic Track

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will complete a single session of jump-rope High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on a standard outdoor athletic track.

Other: HIIT in Outdoor Athletic Track

Green Park

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will complete a single session of jump-rope High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) in a natural green park environment.

Other: HIIT in Green Park Environment

Interventions

HIIT in Indoor Environment OTHER

Participants will perform a 15-minute jump-rope High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) session in a controlled indoor sports venue. The protocol consists of 15 rounds of 30-second high-intensity exercise (target: 85-90% HRmax, RPE 15-17) followed by 30-second active recovery (target: 55-60% HRmax, RPE 9-10). The session includes standardized warm-up and post-exercise physiological and cognitive assessments.

indoor Environment

HIIT in Outdoor Athletic Track OTHER

Participants will perform a 15-minute jump-rope HIIT session on a standard outdoor athletic track. The training protocol is identical to the indoor session: 15 rounds of 30-second high-intensity work (85-90% HRmax) and 30-second recovery (55-60% HRmax). This condition focuses on the effects of a conventional outdoor built environment on physiological stress and executive function.

Outdoor Athletic Track

HIIT in Green Park Environment OTHER

Participants will perform a 15-minute jump-rope HIIT session in a natural green park environment. The protocol remains consistent: 15 rounds of 30-second high-intensity work (85-90% HRmax) and 30-second recovery (55-60% HRmax). This condition aims to investigate the synergistic effects of "green exercise" on stress reduction, cardiovascular response, and cognitive enhancement.

Green Park

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Full-time college students aged 18 to 25 years old.
• Healthy, with no history of major cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, or endocrine diseases.
• No exercise contraindications or lower limb injuries, able to safely complete high-intensity interval training (including jump rope).
• No recent events affecting physiological or psychological status, such as severe insomnia, anxiety, depression, or extreme fatigue.
• Have not taken medications or supplements affecting heart rate, blood pressure, mood, or attention in the past week.
• Normal vision or corrected-to-normal vision, capable of smoothly completing computerized cognitive tasks.
• Able to comprehend and truthfully complete psychological questionnaires.
• Voluntarily participate, fully understand the research procedures, and sign the informed consent form.

You may not qualify if:

• Severe cardiovascular diseases (e.g., myocardial infarction, severe arrhythmias, uncontrolled hypertension).
• Severe respiratory diseases (e.g., severe asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or recent acute respiratory infections).
• History of neurological diseases or brain injuries (e.g., epilepsy, recent concussion) that may affect safety or cognitive tasks.
• Uncontrolled endocrine or metabolic diseases that may interfere with cortisol or metabolic measurements.
• Severe psychological disorders or receiving psychiatric treatment in the past month.
• Use of drugs or supplements significantly affecting heart rate, blood pressure, cortisol, or attention in the past 7 days.
• Currently pregnant or lactating.
• Acute illness in the past 48 hours (e.g., fever, acute gastroenteritis).
• Severe bleeding tendencies or blood disorders, unable to provide biological samples.
• Substance use interference, such as heavy drinking or substance dependence in the past 2 weeks.
• Unable to meet pre-experiment control requirements (e.g., avoiding caffeine, heavy exercise, tobacco).
• Unable to complete cognitive tasks (e.g., poor vision, inability to use a keyboard/mouse).
• Injuries or conditions limiting the safety of HIIT (e.g., recent severe lower limb injury).
• Participation in similar HIIT environmental intervention studies within the past 3 months.
• Insufficient ability to give informed consent or unwilling to sign the consent form.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Shanghai University of Sport: lead

Study Sites (1)

Shanghai University of Sport

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200438, China

Location

Study Officials

• kun Zhu, Ph.D.

  Shanghai University of Sport

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• jiwei Chen, Ph.D.

  Shanghai University of Sport

  STUDY CHAIR

Central Study Contacts

jing Wang

CONTACT

86-15906075548; 2521151009@sus.edu.cn

shijun Jin

CONTACT

86-15670976576; 15670976576@163.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 11, 2026
• First Posted: March 23, 2026
• Study Start: April 15, 2026
• Primary Completion: June 10, 2026
• Study Completion: June 10, 2026
• Last Updated: March 25, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Locations

CN (1)