Sports RecoveryNCT07086495
Effects of Aromatherapy After Aerobic Exercise"
A study testing Aromatherapy in people with Sports Recovery and Sports Performance, run by Bezmialem Vakif University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This study aims to investigate the effect of aromatherapy using lavender oil on recovery speed and cardiovascular parameters in healthy athletes following aerobic exercise. Participants will perform aerobic exercise using the Bruce treadmill protocol and will be randomly assigned to either an aromatherapy group… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 12 to 14 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Sports Recovery, Sports Performance
- What is being tested?
- Aromatherapy
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 45 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 10 Jan 2024to 10 Nov 2024
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 12 to 14 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Aged between 12 and 14 years
- Actively engaged in organized sports training (minimum 2 times per week)
- Medically cleared to participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity
- No known cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, or metabolic conditions
- Provided informed assent and obtained written parental/guardian consent
Who cannot join
- Known allergy to lavender or any component of aromatherapy oils
- Use of medications that may alter cardiovascular responses (e.g., beta-blockers)
- History of cardiac disease, hypertension, or arrhythmia
- Acute or recent musculoskeletal injury (within the last 3 months)
- Acute upper respiratory tract infection during the assessment week
- Inability to complete treadmill exercise testing or follow instructions
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: The Effect of Aromatherapy Application on Recovery Speed and Cardiovascular Parameters After Aerobic Exercise in Athletes
This study aims to investigate the effect of aromatherapy using lavender oil on recovery speed and cardiovascular parameters in healthy athletes following aerobic exercise. Participants will perform aerobic exercise using the Bruce treadmill protocol and will be randomly assigned to either an aromatherapy group (inhaling lavender essential oil) or a control group (no aromatherapy). Heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, perceived exertion, and fatigue levels will be measured before and after exercise. The study seeks to determine whether aromatherapy contributes to faster physiological recovery and reduced fatigue following exercise.
Read the detailed description
Aromatherapy has gained popularity as a complementary approach in sports science, with claims of improving relaxation, reducing fatigue, and enhancing recovery. Lavender essential oil, in particular, has been associated with cardiovascular modulation and reduced perception of exertion. However, its efficacy in post-exercise recovery among athletes remains under-investigated.
This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the physiological and perceptual effects of lavender aromatherapy in athletes following aerobic exertion. Participants aged 15-35 with at least 6 months of regular sports participation will be included. The intervention group will receive inhalation-based lavender oil aromatherapy for 5 minutes after completing the Bruce treadmill protocol, while the control group will rest without aromatherapy.
Primary and secondary outcomes include heart rate recovery, blood pressure, oxygen saturation (SpO₂), Borg RPE score, and fatigue severity. Data will be collected at baseline, immediately after exercise, and at 5-minute intervals during recovery. The findings are expected to provide insights into the use of non-pharmacological recovery strategies in athletic populations.
- Conditions
- Sports Recovery, Sports Performance
- Being tested
- Aromatherapy, Placebo Diffuser (No Essential Oil)
- Keywords
- Aromatherapy, Post-exercise recovery, Complementary therapy, Athletic recovery
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
AromatherapyOther
Participants inhaled lavender essential oil (3 drops in 100 ml water) via diffuser during a 15-minute post-exercise recovery period following the Bruce treadmill protocol.
Placebo Diffuser (No Essential Oil)Other
Participants were exposed to plain water vapor (100 ml of water without essential oil) via diffuser for 15 minutes during post-exercise recovery.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Aromatherapy Group | Experimental | Participants in this group performed aerobic exercise using the Bruce treadmill protocol. After completing the exercise, they were taken to a separate room where a diffuser had been running for 15 minutes, containing 3 drops of lavender essential oil in 100 ml of water. They inhaled the aromatherapy during a 15-minute recovery period while cardiovascular parameters were monitored. Receives: Other: Aromatherapy |
| Placebo Group | Placebo comparator | Participants in this group performed aerobic exercise using the Bruce treadmill protocol. After exercise, they were taken to a separate room where a diffuser had been operating for 15 minutes with only 100 ml of plain water and no essential oils. They rested in this environment for 15 minutes, during which their cardiovascular parameters were monitored. This arm aimed to control for the effect of the diffuser itself without the therapeutic component of lavender oil. Receives: Other: Placebo Diffuser (No Essential Oil) |
| Control Group | No intervention | Participants in this group performed aerobic exercise using the Bruce treadmill protocol. After the exercise, they rested in a standard environment without exposure to any diffuser or aromatherapy. Their cardiovascular parameters were monitored during a 15-minute recovery period, serving as the baseline comparison for evaluating the effects of aromatherapy and placebo. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Heart Rate Recovery
Heart rate was measured using a fingertip pulse oximeter. Participants remained seated and still during the measurements to ensure accuracy. The device provided real-time heart rate readings, recorded manually by the researcher.
Measured: Baseline, immediately post-exercise, and at 5 and 15 minutes after recovery
Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure
Blood pressure was measured with a calibrated manual sphygmomanometer and a standard stethoscope using the auscultatory method. All measurements were taken from the left arm, with the participant in a seated position, after at least one minute of rest.
Measured: Baseline, immediately post-exercise, and at 5 and 15 minutes after recovery
Secondary outcomes (3)
Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂)
Oxygen saturation was assessed using a non-invasive fingertip pulse oximeter. The sensor was placed on the index finger of the dominant hand, and values were recorded once a stable reading was obtained.
Measured: Baseline, immediately post-exercise, and at 5 and 15 minutes after recovery
Rating of Perceived Exertion
Participants were asked to rate their level of exertion using the Borg 6-20 scale. The scale was visually presented, and participants pointed to the value that best represented their perceived effort. This method is validated and widely used in exercise science.
Measured: Immediately post-exercise and after 15 minutes of recovery
Fatigue Severity Score
The FSS questionnaire was administered in printed form. Participants completed the 9-item scale independently in a quiet environment. Each item was scored on a 7-point Likert scale, and the total score was calculated by averaging all responses.
Measured: Before exercise and after 15 minutes of recovery
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted25 Jul 2025
- Study start10 Jan 2024
- Primary completion16 Oct 2024
- Study completion10 Nov 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Sports RecoveryStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Bezmialem Vakif UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Screening
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Bezmialem Vakif University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07086495
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- BvuNES
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 18 Jul 2025
- Last updated
- 25 Jul 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be shared due to ethical considerations related to the age group of participants (12-14 years), the sensitivity of health-related information collected, and the limited scope of the study. The study involves minors, and although parental consent and participant assent were obtained, data sharing beyond the primary research team was not included in the consent process. Therefore, data will remain confidential and used solely for the purposes outlined in the approved study protocol.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 25 Jul 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Aromatherapy Application on Recovery Speed and Cardiovascular Parameters After Aerobic Exercise in Athletes
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07086495
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- BvuNES
- Conditions
- Sports Recovery, Sports Performance
- Keywords
- Aromatherapy, Post-exercise recovery, Complementary therapy, Athletic recovery
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 45 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Bezmialem Vakif UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 10 Jan 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 16 Oct 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 10 Nov 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 25 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study aims to investigate the effect of aromatherapy using lavender oil on recovery speed and cardiovascular parameters in healthy athletes following aerobic exercise. Participants will perform aerobic exercise using the Bruce treadmill protocol and will be randomly assigned to either an aromatherapy group (inhaling lavender essential oil) or a control group (no aromatherapy). Heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, perceived exertion, and fatigue levels will be measured before and after exercise. The study seeks to determine whether aromatherapy contributes to faster physiological recovery and reduced fatigue following exercise.
Detailed description
Aromatherapy has gained popularity as a complementary approach in sports science, with claims of improving relaxation, reducing fatigue, and enhancing recovery. Lavender essential oil, in particular, has been associated with cardiovascular modulation and reduced perception of exertion. However, its efficacy in post-exercise recovery among athletes remains under-investigated.
This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the physiological and perceptual effects of lavender aromatherapy in athletes following aerobic exertion. Participants aged 15-35 with at least 6 months of regular sports participation will be included. The intervention group will receive inhalation-based lavender oil aromatherapy for 5 minutes after completing the Bruce treadmill protocol, while the control group will rest without aromatherapy.
Primary and secondary outcomes include heart rate recovery, blood pressure, oxygen saturation (SpO₂), Borg RPE score, and fatigue severity. Data will be collected at baseline, immediately after exercise, and at 5-minute intervals during recovery. The findings are expected to provide insights into the use of non-pharmacological recovery strategies in athletic populations.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Screening
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Aromatherapy Group | Experimental | Other: AromatherapyParticipants in this group performed aerobic exercise using the Bruce treadmill protocol. After completing the exercise, they were taken to a separate room where a diffuser had been running for 15 minutes, containing 3 drops of lavender essential oil in 100 ml of water. They inhaled the aromatherapy during a 15-minute recovery period while cardiovascular parameters were monitored. |
| Placebo Group | Placebo comparator | Other: Placebo Diffuser (No Essential Oil)Participants in this group performed aerobic exercise using the Bruce treadmill protocol. After exercise, they were taken to a separate room where a diffuser had been operating for 15 minutes with only 100 ml of plain water and no essential oils. They rested in this environment for 15 minutes, during which their cardiovascular parameters were monitored. This arm aimed to control for the effect of the diffuser itself without the therapeutic component of lavender oil. |
| Control Group | No intervention | –Participants in this group performed aerobic exercise using the Bruce treadmill protocol. After the exercise, they rested in a standard environment without exposure to any diffuser or aromatherapy. Their cardiovascular parameters were monitored during a 15-minute recovery period, serving as the baseline comparison for evaluating the effects of aromatherapy and placebo. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 12 to 14 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Aged between 12 and 14 years
- Actively engaged in organized sports training (minimum 2 times per week)
- Medically cleared to participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity
- No known cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological, or metabolic conditions
- Provided informed assent and obtained written parental/guardian consent
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Known allergy to lavender or any component of aromatherapy oils
- Use of medications that may alter cardiovascular responses (e.g., beta-blockers)
- History of cardiac disease, hypertension, or arrhythmia
- Acute or recent musculoskeletal injury (within the last 3 months)
- Acute upper respiratory tract infection during the assessment week
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| AromatherapyParticipants inhaled lavender essential oil (3 drops in 100 ml water) via diffuser during a 15-minute post-exercise recovery period following the Bruce treadmill protocol. | Other | Aromatherapy Group |
| Placebo Diffuser (No Essential Oil)Participants were exposed to plain water vapor (100 ml of water without essential oil) via diffuser for 15 minutes during post-exercise recovery. | Other | Placebo Group |
Primary outcome
Heart Rate Recovery
Time frame: Baseline, immediately post-exercise, and at 5 and 15 minutes after recovery
Heart rate was measured using a fingertip pulse oximeter. Participants remained seated and still during the measurements to ensure accuracy. The device provided real-time heart rate readings, recorded manually by the researcher.
Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure
Time frame: Baseline, immediately post-exercise, and at 5 and 15 minutes after recovery
Blood pressure was measured with a calibrated manual sphygmomanometer and a standard stethoscope using the auscultatory method. All measurements were taken from the left arm, with the participant in a seated position, after at least one minute of rest.
3 secondary outcomes
Oxygen Saturation (SpO₂)
Time frame: Baseline, immediately post-exercise, and at 5 and 15 minutes after recovery
Rating of Perceived Exertion
Time frame: Immediately post-exercise and after 15 minutes of recovery
Fatigue Severity Score
Time frame: Before exercise and after 15 minutes of recovery
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 25 Jul 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be shared due to ethical considerations related to the age group of participants (12-14 years), the sensitivity of health-related information collected, and the limited scope of the study. The study involves minors, and although parental consent and participant assent were obtained, data sharing beyond the primary research team was not included in the consent process. Therefore, data will remain confidential and used solely for the purposes outlined in the approved study protocol.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Aromatherapy in people with Sports Recovery and Sports Performance, run by Bezmialem Vakif University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 25 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Heart Rate Recovery (time frame: Baseline, immediately post-exercise, and at 5 and 15 minutes after recovery). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 25 Jul 2025.