Differences in Autonomic Recovery Between Physically Active and Inactive Women Following an Automated Massage Chair Intervention

NCT07529678 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: USM/JEPeM/KK/24010104
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 20
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this study is to investigate whether an automated massage chair can improve the body's recovery system in healthy young women (aged 19-26 years) who are either physically active or inactive. The main questions it aims to answer are:

1. 1.Does a single session in an automated massage chair improve heart rate variability (HRV) as an indicator of stress, relaxation, and recovery balance?
2. 2.Do individuals who are more physically active recover better after using a massage chair compared to those who are inactive?
3. 3.Complete a standardized 20-minute automated massage chair session using a preset program at a self-selected moderate intensity.
4. 4.Have their heart rate data collected at baseline, prior to the massage session.
5. 5.Undergo follow-up heart rate data collection at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the session to monitor short-term recovery changes.

Conditions

Healthy Young Adults; Physical Activity Levels; Inactive People

Keywords

automated massage chair; Physically inactive; physically active; autonomic nervous system; heart rate variability; sympathetic nervous system; parasympathetic nervous system

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Heart rate variability

  The primary outcome measures changes in autonomic nervous system regulation using frequency-domain indices of Heart Rate Variability (HRV). HRV is a non-invasive marker of sympathovagal balance.Three specific metrics are evaluated using Kubios software: 1. High-Frequency (HF) power: Measured in normalized units (0.15-0.40 Hz). HF reflects parasympathetic (vagal) activity, which drives rest, relaxation, and recovery. 2. Low-Frequency (LF) power: Measured in normalized units (0.04-0.15 Hz). LF indicates a mixture of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system influences. 3. LF/HF Ratio: Calculated as an index of overall autonomic balance. Lower values denote greater parasympathetic dominance and more efficient recovery.These HRV outcomes are recorded at baseline, 24, 48, and 72 hours post-intervention to track short-term physiological recovery.

  Baseline, post 24-hours, post 48-hours, post 72-hours

Study Arms (2)

Physically Inactive Group

SHAM COMPARATOR

Physically inactive participants undergo a single 20-minute treatment utilizing a commercial automated electric massage chair. For the duration of the intervention, subjects rest in a heavily reclined position, allowing the device to fully support the head and torso while keeping the lower extremities elevated.The massage chair is programmed to execute the manufacturer's specific "Recharge" protocol. This setting applies a combination of mechanical kneading and rolling motions across the upper and lower back, cervical region, arms, and thighs.To ensure consistency in perceived physical exertion, the mechanical force is customized per user. Researchers calibrate the physical pressure through a wireless application, relying on the participant's verbal feedback to lock in a self-reported "moderate" intensity rating prior to the 20-minute session. Heart rate variability is measured at pre, post 24-, post 48-, and post 72-hours massage intervention.

Device: Massage chair

Physically Active Group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants are active.The intervention consists of a single 20-minute standardized session in an automated electric massage chair. Participants are positioned in a reclined posture where the back of the chair is nearly parallel to the floor, with their hips and knees flexed at 90 degrees or more, and their legs and feet elevated to heart level.The session utilizes a preset "Recharge" program designed to deliver moderate-intensity massage therapy. The mechanical massage applies continuous, harmonized kneading and rolling techniques specifically targeting the back, neck, shoulders, forearms, and thighs.While the program is preset, participants subjectively self-select their perceived moderate pressure on a scale of 1 to 3. The massage intensity is then adjusted via Bluetooth using a paired application, ensuring the pressure is suitable and comfortable for each individual participant. Heart rate variability is measured at pre, post 24-, post 48-, and post 72-hours massage intervention.

Device: Massage chair

Interventions

Massage chair DEVICE

The intervention utilized the Ogawa Master Drive AI 2.0 massage chair, which is an advanced, fully automated, electrically powered unit featuring Bluetooth-enabled control via the Ogawa Wellness app.

Physically Active Group; Physically Inactive Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 19 Years - 26 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

Participants in the physically active group were university athletes from various sports (athletics, football, volleyball, and badminton) with at least one year of competition experience at the university level and who engaged in supervised training sessions at least three times per week. Physically inactive were those who did not meet these criteria and were identified as having low physical activity levels based on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ).

Contact the study team to discuss eligibility requirements. They can help determine if this study is right for you.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universiti Sains Malaysia: lead

Study Sites (1)

Exercise and Sports Science Laboratory

Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, 16150, Malaysia

Location

Related Publications (11)

• Chen YS, Lu WA, Clemente FM, Bezerra JP, Kuo CD. Increased Parasympathetic Activity by Foot Reflexology Massage after Repeated Sprint Test in Collegiate Football Players: A Randomised Controlled Trial. Sports (Basel). 2019 Nov 3;7(11):228. doi: 10.3390/sports7110228.

  PMID: 31684198 BACKGROUND

• Yilmaz E, Aktop A, Abdioglu A, Melekoglu T, Nalbant M. The Effect of Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback on Recovery After Aerobic Exercise. Appl Psychophysiol Biofeedback. 2025 Mar;50(1):95-106. doi: 10.1007/s10484-024-09672-z. Epub 2024 Dec 4.

  PMID: 39630342 BACKGROUND

• Miyagi R, Sasawaki Y, Shiotani H. The influence of short-term sedentary behavior on circadian rhythm of heart rate and heart rate variability. Chronobiol Int. 2019 Mar;36(3):374-380. doi: 10.1080/07420528.2018.1550422. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

  PMID: 30501447 BACKGROUND

• Fazeli MS, Pourrahmat MM, Liu M, Guan L, Collet JP. The Effect of Head Massage on the Regulation of the Cardiac Autonomic Nervous System: A Pilot Randomized Crossover Trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2016 Jan;22(1):75-80. doi: 10.1089/acm.2015.0141. Epub 2015 Nov 12.

  PMID: 26562003 BACKGROUND

• Tarvainen MP, Niskanen JP, Lipponen JA, Ranta-Aho PO, Karjalainen PA. Kubios HRV--heart rate variability analysis software. Comput Methods Programs Biomed. 2014;113(1):210-20. doi: 10.1016/j.cmpb.2013.07.024. Epub 2013 Aug 6.

  PMID: 24054542 BACKGROUND

• Craig CL, Marshall AL, Sjostrom M, Bauman AE, Booth ML, Ainsworth BE, Pratt M, Ekelund U, Yngve A, Sallis JF, Oja P. International physical activity questionnaire: 12-country reliability and validity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003 Aug;35(8):1381-95. doi: 10.1249/01.MSS.0000078924.61453.FB.

  PMID: 12900694 BACKGROUND

• Mat Isar NEN, Abdul Halim MHZ, Ong MLY. Acute massage stimulates parasympathetic activation after a single exhaustive muscle contraction exercise. J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2022 Apr;30:105-111. doi: 10.1016/j.jbmt.2022.02.016. Epub 2022 Feb 7.

  PMID: 35500957 BACKGROUND

• Forstenpointner J, Elman I, Freeman R, Borsook D. The omnipresence of autonomic modulation in health and disease. Prog Neurobiol. 2022 Mar;210:102218. doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2022.102218. Epub 2022 Jan 13.

  PMID: 35033599 BACKGROUND

• Xie J, Fu M, Liu T, Li S, Liu G, Wang J, Ji C, Zhang T. Clinical studies on the electric automatic massage therapy for recovery of acute sports fatigue. Technol Health Care. 2023;31(S1):185-197. doi: 10.3233/THC-236016.

  PMID: 37038791 BACKGROUND

• Youn BY, Cho H, Joo S, Kim HJ, Kim JY. Utilization of massage chairs for promoting overall health and wellness: A rapid scoping review. Explore (NY). 2024 May-Jun;20(3):285-297. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2023.10.002. Epub 2023 Oct 5.

  PMID: 37839928 BACKGROUND

• Baek JY, Lee E, Gil B, Jung HW, Jang IY. Clinical effects of using a massage chair on stress measures in adults: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Complement Ther Med. 2022 Jun;66:102825. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2022.102825. Epub 2022 Mar 24.

  PMID: 35339652 BACKGROUND

Study Design

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

Model Details: Two groups: 1. Physically Active 2. Physically Inactive Both groups receive the same intervention

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: August 13, 2025
• First Posted: April 14, 2026
• Study Start: April 23, 2024
• Primary Completion: July 1, 2024
• Study Completion: April 18, 2025
• Last Updated: April 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

MY (1)