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Acute Responses to Walking, Stair Climbing, and Functional Circuit Exercise

Acute Metabolic, Respiratory, and Neuromotor Responses to Walking, Stair Climbing, and Functional Circuit Exercise in Sedentary Individuals: A Heart Rate-Controlled Randomized Crossover Study

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07806032
Enrollment
30
Registered
2026-09-08
Start date
2026-06-22
Completion date
2026-08-05
Last updated
2026-09-08

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Sedentary Behaviors

Keywords

Walking, Stair Climbing, Functional Exercise, Heart Rate Reserve, Pulmonary Function, Blood Lactate, Countermovement Jump, Sedentary Adults

Brief summary

This study evaluated the acute physiological responses to three different exercise modalities in sedentary young men. Participants completed walking, stair climbing, and functional circuit exercise sessions in a randomized crossover design. Each exercise session lasted 20 minutes and was performed at a target intensity of 50% heart rate reserve (±5 beats/min), with at least 72 hours between sessions. The study compared acute respiratory, metabolic, and neuromotor responses to the three exercise modalities. Pulmonary function was assessed using spirometry, blood lactate concentration was measured using capillary blood samples, and countermovement jump performance was assessed as an indicator of neuromuscular performance. Heart rate was continuously monitored during each exercise session.

Interventions

Participants performed a 20-minute walking exercise session at a target intensity of 50% heart rate reserve (HRR), maintained within ±5 beats/min of the individual target heart rate. Heart rate was continuously monitored throughout the exercise session.

BEHAVIORALStair Climbing Protocol

Participants performed a 20-minute stair climbing exercise session at a target intensity of 50% heart rate reserve (HRR), maintained within ±5 beats/min of the individual target heart rate. Heart rate was continuously monitored throughout the exercise session.

BEHAVIORALFunctional Circuit Protocol

Participants performed a 20-minute functional circuit exercise session at a target intensity of 50% heart rate reserve (HRR), maintained within ±5 beats/min of the individual target heart rate. The circuit consisted of chair sit-to-stand, reverse lunges, wall push-ups, high-knee marching, and low-impact mountain climbers performed on an elevated surface. Heart rate was continuously monitored throughout the exercise session.

Sponsors

Malatya Turgut Ozal University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Participants completed three exercise conditions (walking, stair climbing, and functional circuit exercise) in a randomized crossover design. The order of the three conditions was determined using six balanced intervention sequences, with at least 72 hours between exercise sessions.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to 30 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Male sex. * Aged 18-30 years. * Classified as sedentary/insufficiently active according to the study eligibility criteria. * Able to safely complete the exercise protocols and study assessments. * Provided voluntary informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

* Current cigarette or electronic cigarette use. * Known cardiovascular, respiratory, or metabolic disease. * Regular medication use that could affect physiological responses to exercise. * Acute infection within the previous 2 weeks. * Musculoskeletal conditions that could interfere with safe participation in the exercise protocols. * Any condition requiring medical evaluation before exercise participation. * Inability to obtain acceptable baseline spirometry measurements according to the study procedures.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second (FEV1)Baseline and 5 minutes after each exercise sessionForced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was measured by spirometry before and 5 minutes after each exercise condition. The primary outcome was the change in FEV1 (ΔFEV1), calculated as post-exercise FEV1 minus pre-exercise FEV1 and expressed in liters (L). Measurements were obtained following standardized spirometry procedures.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)Baseline and 5 minutes after each exercise sessionForced vital capacity (FVC) was measured by spirometry before and 5 minutes after each exercise condition. The outcome was the change in FVC (ΔFVC), calculated as post-exercise FVC minus pre-exercise FVC and expressed in liters (L).
Change in FEV1/FVC RatioBaseline and 5 minutes after each exercise sessionThe FEV1/FVC ratio was assessed by spirometry before and 5 minutes after each exercise condition. The outcome was the change in FEV1/FVC ratio (ΔFEV1/FVC), calculated as the post-exercise value minus the pre-exercise value.
Change in Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF)Baseline and 5 minutes after each exercise sessionPeak expiratory flow (PEF) was measured by spirometry before and 5 minutes after each exercise condition. The outcome was the change in PEF (ΔPEF), calculated as the post-exercise PEF minus the pre-exercise PEF and expressed in liters per second (L/s).
Change in Blood Lactate ConcentrationBaseline and 3 minutes after each exercise sessionCapillary blood lactate concentration was measured before exercise and 3 minutes after each exercise condition. The outcome was the change in blood lactate concentration (ΔLactate), calculated as the post-exercise value minus the pre-exercise value and expressed in millimoles per liter (mmol/L).
Change in Countermovement Jump Height (CMJ)Baseline and immediately after post-exercise spirometry initiated at 5 minutes after each exercise sessionCountermovement jump (CMJ) height was assessed before and after each exercise condition. The outcome was the change in CMJ height (ΔCMJ), calculated as the post-exercise value minus the pre-exercise value and expressed in centimeters (cm).
Mean Heart Rate During ExerciseDuring each 20-minute exercise sessionHeart rate was continuously monitored throughout each exercise condition. Mean heart rate was calculated across the exercise period and expressed in beats per minute (bpm).
Maximum Heart Rate During ExerciseDuring each 20-minute exercise sessionHeart rate was continuously monitored throughout each exercise condition. Maximum heart rate was defined as the highest heart rate recorded during the exercise period and expressed in beats per minute (bpm).
Time Spent in the Target Heart Rate RangeDuring each 20-minute exercise sessionHeart rate was continuously monitored throughout each exercise condition. The outcome was the percentage of exercise time during which heart rate remained within ±5 beats/min of the individualized target heart rate corresponding to 50% heart rate reserve (HRR)

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Sep 9, 2026