Effect of Hot Spring Therapy on Autonomic Nervous System and Exercise Performance During Altitude Training

This randomized controlled trial aims to investigate the effects of balneotherapy (hot spring bathing) on cardiac autonomic nervous system function and exercise performance in healthy athletes undergoing high-altitude training. Participants will be randomly assigned to the intervention group (receiving hot spring baths three times per week (38°C, 20 minutes) combined with high-altitude training), the control group (receiving routine recovery protocols combined with high-altitude training), or the hot water immersion group (receiving hot water baths three times per week (38°C, 20 minutes) combined with high-altitude training). Primary outcome measures include heart rate variability (HRV) indices and exercise performance indicators. Secondary outcomes include blood lactate, peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2), and subjective fatigue. These findings may provide evidence for non-pharmacological interventions to enhance high-altitude training adaptation and exercise recovery.

NCT Number	NCT07608887
Lead Sponsor	Macao Polytechnic University
Conditions	Altitude Training Adaptation, Autonomic Nervous System, Hydrotherapy, Exercise Performance, Altitude Sickness
Enrollment	27 participants
Start Date	2026-01-10
Primary Completion	2026-03-07 (estimated)
Study Completion	2026-03-08 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-06-26