None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
This study aims to determine the effect of a hot springs bathing program (balneotherapy) on sleep and mood state among healthy adults, at a major commercial hot springs destination in Australia, Peninsula Hot Springs. Parallel to the study's main aim, the measures and different groupings will also enable comparison of various commonly practiced bathing behaviours in the outcomes. The potential for habituation is to be explored in the results, with first bathing session results compared to the total program outcomes. Hypothesis: All bathing interventions will show significantly improved mood, cardiovascular function and sleep quality compared to 'quiet time' control intervention.
Interventions
Each participant will be randomised to weekly placements over 4 weeks in the following interventions which deliver an assortment of manipulated independent variables:
- Thermoneutral bathing (37 degrees C) for 20 minutes, seated position, neck high.
- Warm water bathing (39 degrees C) for 20 minutes, seated position, neck high.
- Hot water bathing (42 degrees C) 2X10 minutes sessions, seated position, neck high, with X2 cold plunges.
- Quiet time X20 minutes in semi-darkened dome lounges within
Each participant will be randomised to weekly placements over 4 weeks in the following interventions which deliver an assortment of manipulated independent variables: - Thermoneutral bathing (37 degrees C) for 20 minutes, seated position, neck high. - Warm water bathing (39 degrees C) for 20 minutes, seated position, neck high. - Hot water bathing (42 degrees C) 2X10 minutes sessions, seated position, neck high, with X2 cold plunges. - Quiet time X20 minutes in semi-darkened dome lounges within Peninsula Hot Springs (PHS) surrounds, no bathing. All interventions take place within Peninsula Hot Springs, Victoria, Australia. Each intervention takes place at 7.30pm. Bathing interventions are in outdoor geothermal mineral pools. Research assistants onsite control for adherence to the intervention protocols, including session timing, water temperatures and distribution/collection of self-reported questionnaires. Washout between treatments is 7 days.
Sponsors
RMIT University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Crossover
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Healthy volunteers aged 18-45, local to the testing site (living within 20 minutes drive).
Exclusion criteria
• Unable to give informed consent • A known mood state disorder (eg. anxiety/depression) and/or psychopharmacological medication, hypertensive medication within 4 weeks of recruitment. • Sleeping problems/taking any sleep medications or supplements that may interfere with sleep. • Caffeine or other addictions. • Serious illness including: Rheumatic disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus. • Abnormal blood pressure. • Have undergone cancer treatment within 4 weeks of recruitment. • Bathing within 2 weeks prior to the study. • Shift workers: defined as those who work outside of generally perceived normal working hours. • Holiday makers will be excluded for the likelihood their escape/getaway motivation skews sleep/relaxation/QoL data and they are considered more likely to drop-out. • Allergic reaction to the PHS water. • Claustrophobia. • Pregnant or within lactation period. • Epilepsy. • Recent hospitalisation, surgery or antibiotic therapy. • Need to travel across time zones two weeks before or during the study period. • No evening baths at home post-intervention. • Rheumatic diseases including arthritis, causing pain at night. • Cortisone intake within 4 weeks prior to the study. • Changes in dose rates of other medications up to 1 week before study entry.
Outcome results
None listed