HealhtyNCT07661953
Autonomic and Peripheral Neurochemical Responses to Maximal Rowing Exercise
An observational study of Healhty, run by Poznan University of Physical Education at 1 site in Poland.
Trial summary
The goal of this observational study is to characterize autonomic, neuroendocrine, and peripheral neurochemical responses to maximal rowing exercise and early recovery in highly trained male athletes. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 19 to 24 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healhty
- What is being tested?
- Maximal 6,000-m rowing ergometer test
- How many people
- 15 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePoland
- Study dates
- 6 Jun 2024to 3 Mar 2025
- Phase
- Observational
- 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 19 to 24 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Study population: Participants were recruited from the Polish National Rowing Team training at the Olympic Preparation Centre (COS OPO) in Wałcz, Poland.
Who may be able to join
- Highly trained rowers competing at the national or international level
- Regular participation in structured rowing training
- Current sports medical clearance for maximal exercise testing
- Ability to complete a maximal 6,000-m rowing ergometer test
- Written informed consent to participate in the study
Who cannot join
- Acute illness, infection, or injury before testing
- Diagnosed cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological, endocrine, or inflammatory disorder
- Use of medications or supplements that could affect cardiovascular, endocrine, metabolic, or neurochemical responses
- Inability to complete the maximal 6,000-m rowing ergometer test
- Inability or refusal to provide blood samples
- Non-compliance with study procedures or pre-test instructions
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Integrated Autonomic, Neuroendocrine and Peripheral Neurochemical Responses to Maximal Rowing Exercise and Early Recovery in Elite Athletes
The goal of this observational study is to characterize autonomic, neuroendocrine, and peripheral neurochemical responses to maximal rowing exercise and early recovery in highly trained male athletes.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Read more
- How do circulating concentrations of cortisol, testosterone, dopamine, serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and the testosterone-to-cortisol ratio change in response to maximal rowing exercise and during the first hour of recovery?
- How do autonomic cardiovascular parameters, including heart rate variability, blood pressure variability, and baroreflex sensitivity, change 3 hours after maximal exercise compared with baseline values?
- Do endocrine, peripheral neurochemical, and autonomic responses demonstrate similar or divergent recovery patterns following maximal exercise?
Participants will:
- Perform a maximal 6,000-m rowing ergometer test.
- Undergo venous blood sampling before exercise, immediately after exercise, and 1 hour after exercise recovery for assessment of endocrine and peripheral neurochemical markers.
- Undergo noninvasive cardiovascular and autonomic assessment using the Task Force Monitor System before exercise and 3 hours after exercise recovery.
Read the detailed description
This observational study was conducted to investigate physiological responses to maximal rowing exercise and subsequent recovery in highly trained male athletes. The study employed a repeated-measures design, allowing assessment of exercise-induced changes across multiple physiological systems during distinct phases of recovery.
Participants completed a maximal 6,000-m rowing ergometer test under standardized laboratory conditions. Biological and physiological measurements were collected before exercise and during recovery according to a predefined protocol. Venous blood samples were obtained at baseline, immediately after exercise, and after 1 hour of recovery. Noninvasive autonomic and cardiovascular assessments were performed using the Task Force Monitor System before exercise and after 3 hours of recovery. The protocol was designed to capture both immediate biochemical responses and delayed autonomic recovery following maximal exercise.
The study focused on endocrine, peripheral neurochemical, and autonomic cardiovascular regulation. Peripheral neurochemical markers were assessed from blood samples and interpreted as components of the peripheral physiological response to exercise rather than direct indicators of central nervous system activity.
Data collection was performed under controlled laboratory conditions using standardized procedures. All measurements were obtained by trained investigators using calibrated equipment. Data quality was verified through routine review of laboratory and physiological recordings. Implausible values and technical artifacts were identified and evaluated before statistical analysis.
The planned sample size was based on the availability of elite athletes meeting the inclusion criteria and the repeated-measures design of the study. Statistical analyses were conducted using repeated-measures approaches appropriate for longitudinal within-subject data. Data distribution was assessed prior to analysis. Parametric or non-parametric tests were applied as appropriate. Effect sizes were calculated to complement significance testing. Associations between selected physiological variables were explored using correlation analyses. Missing data were handled using complete-case analysis, with no imputation procedures applied.
- Conditions
- Healhty
- Being tested
- Maximal 6,000-m rowing ergometer test
- Keywords
- maximal exercise, elite athletes, heart rate variability, autonomic recovery, Task Force Monitor, cortisol, testosterone, dopamine, serotonine, GABA, neuroendocrine response, exercise recovery
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Maximal 6,000-m rowing ergometer testOther
Participants completed a single maximal 6,000-m rowing ergometer test. The intervention was distinguished by a standardized all-out rowing protocol combined with peripheral blood sampling before exercise, immediately after exercise, and after 1 hour of recovery, as well as noninvasive autonomic and cardiovascular assessment at baseline and 3 hours after exercise.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Male elite rowers | Not described Receives: Other: Maximal 6,000-m rowing ergometer test | |
| Female elite rowers | Not described Receives: Other: Maximal 6,000-m rowing ergometer test |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change from baseline in serum cortisol concentration
Marker of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation and exercise-induced endocrine response.
Measured: Baseline (pre-exercise), 0 minutes post-exercise, and 60 minutes post-exercise.
Change from baseline in serum testosterone concentration
Marker of anabolic status and exercise-induced endocrine response.
Measured: Baseline (pre-exercise), 0 minutes post-exercise, and 60 minutes post-exercise.
Change from baseline in testosterone-to-cortisol ratio (T/C)
Marker of anabolic-catabolic balance during exercise and recovery.
Measured: Baseline (pre-exercise), 0 minutes post-exercise, and 60 minutes post-exercise.
Change from baseline in serum dopamine concentration
Peripheral neurochemical marker associated with physiological responses to exercise and recovery.
Measured: Baseline (pre-exercise), 0 minutes post-exercise, and 60 minutes post-exercise.
Change from baseline in serum serotonin concentration
Peripheral neurochemical marker associated with exercise-induced physiological responses and recovery processes.
Measured: Baseline (pre-exercise), 0 minutes post-exercise, and 60 minutes post-exercise.
Change from baseline in serum gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration
Peripheral neurochemical marker involved in physiological regulatory processes during exercise and recovery.
Measured: Baseline (pre-exercise), 0 minutes post-exercise, and 60 minutes post-exercise.
Change from baseline in systolic blood pressure (sBP)
Continuous beat-to-beat systolic blood pressure measured using the Task Force Monitor System.
Measured: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 180 minutes post-exercise.
Change from baseline in diastolic blood pressure (dBP)
Continuous beat-to-beat diastolic blood pressure measured using the Task Force Monitor System.
Measured: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 180 minutes post-exercise.
Change from baseline in mean blood pressure (mBP)
Continuous beat-to-beat mean arterial pressure measured using the Task Force Monitor System.
Measured: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 180 minutes post-exercise.
Change from baseline in heart rate (HR)
Heart rate derived from continuous electrocardiographic recordings.
Measured: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 180 minutes post-exercise.
Change from baseline in total power spectral density of RR intervals (PSD-RRI)
Total spectral power of heart rate variability obtained from power spectral analysis of RR intervals.
Measured: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 180 minutes post-exercise.
Change from baseline in low-frequency power of RR intervals (LF-RRI)
Low-frequency component of heart rate variability (0.04-0.15 Hz), reflecting combined sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation.
Measured: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 180 minutes post-exercise.
Change from baseline in high-frequency power of RR intervals (HF-RRI)
High-frequency component of heart rate variability (0.17-0.40 Hz), considered an indicator of parasympathetic modulation.
Measured: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 180 minutes post-exercise.
Change from baseline in LF/HF ratio
Ratio of low-frequency to high-frequency spectral power used as an index of sympathovagal balance.
Measured: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 180 minutes post-exercise.
Change from baseline in baroreflex sensitivity (BRS)
Index of baroreflex function calculated using the spontaneous sequence method.
Measured: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 180 minutes post-exercise.
Change from baseline in baroreflex effectiveness index (BEI)
Index quantifying the effectiveness of baroreflex-mediated cardiovascular regulation.
Measured: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 180 minutes post-exercise.
Secondary outcomes (1)
Change from baseline in blood lactate concentration
Marker of metabolic response to maximal rowing exercise and early recovery.
Measured: Baseline (pre-exercise), 0 minutes post-exercise, and 60 minutes post-exercise.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted22 Jun 2026
- Study start6 Jun 2024
- Primary completion25 Nov 2024
- Study completion3 Mar 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for HealhtyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Observational
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Retrospective
- Enrolment
- 15 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Poznan University of Physical Education
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Anna Skarpańska-Stejnborn, Professor, Study chair, Poznan University of Physical Education, Gorzów Wielkopolski; Faculty of Sport Sciences in Gorzów Wielkopolski;
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07661953
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- B-machine
- Status last verified
- Jun 2024
- First submitted
- 16 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 18 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: Individual participant data sharing has not yet been determined. Future sharing of de-identified data will depend on institutional policies, ethical considerations, participant consent, and planned secondary analyses.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 18 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Integrated Autonomic, Neuroendocrine and Peripheral Neurochemical Responses to Maximal Rowing Exercise and Early Recovery in Elite Athletes
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07661953
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- B-machine
- Conditions
- Healhty
- Keywords
- maximal exercise, elite athletes, heart rate variability, autonomic recovery, Task Force Monitor, cortisol, testosterone, dopamine
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 15 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Poznan University of Physical EducationUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz
- Study start
- 6 Jun 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 25 Nov 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 3 Mar 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 22 Jun 2026 (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.
The goal of this observational study is to characterize autonomic, neuroendocrine, and peripheral neurochemical responses to maximal rowing exercise and early recovery in highly trained male athletes.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
- How do circulating concentrations of cortisol, testosterone, dopamine, serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and the testosterone-to-cortisol ratio change in response to maximal rowing exercise and during the first hour of recovery?
- How do autonomic cardiovascular parameters, including heart rate variability, blood pressure variability, and baroreflex sensitivity, change 3 hours after maximal exercise compared with baseline values?
- Do endocrine, peripheral neurochemical, and autonomic responses demonstrate similar or divergent recovery patterns following maximal exercise?
Participants will:
- Perform a maximal 6,000-m rowing ergometer test.
- Undergo venous blood sampling before exercise, immediately after exercise, and 1 hour after exercise recovery for assessment of endocrine and peripheral neurochemical markers.
- Undergo noninvasive cardiovascular and autonomic assessment using the Task Force Monitor System before exercise and 3 hours after exercise recovery.
Detailed description
This observational study was conducted to investigate physiological responses to maximal rowing exercise and subsequent recovery in highly trained male athletes. The study employed a repeated-measures design, allowing assessment of exercise-induced changes across multiple physiological systems during distinct phases of recovery.
Participants completed a maximal 6,000-m rowing ergometer test under standardized laboratory conditions. Biological and physiological measurements were collected before exercise and during recovery according to a predefined protocol. Venous blood samples were obtained at baseline, immediately after exercise, and after 1 hour of recovery. Noninvasive autonomic and cardiovascular assessments were performed using the Task Force Monitor System before exercise and after 3 hours of recovery. The protocol was designed to capture both immediate biochemical responses and delayed autonomic recovery following maximal exercise.
The study focused on endocrine, peripheral neurochemical, and autonomic cardiovascular regulation. Peripheral neurochemical markers were assessed from blood samples and interpreted as components of the peripheral physiological response to exercise rather than direct indicators of central nervous system activity.
Data collection was performed under controlled laboratory conditions using standardized procedures. All measurements were obtained by trained investigators using calibrated equipment. Data quality was verified through routine review of laboratory and physiological recordings. Implausible values and technical artifacts were identified and evaluated before statistical analysis.
The planned sample size was based on the availability of elite athletes meeting the inclusion criteria and the repeated-measures design of the study. Statistical analyses were conducted using repeated-measures approaches appropriate for longitudinal within-subject data. Data distribution was assessed prior to analysis. Parametric or non-parametric tests were applied as appropriate. Effect sizes were calculated to complement significance testing. Associations between selected physiological variables were explored using correlation analyses. Missing data were handled using complete-case analysis, with no imputation procedures applied.
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
- Time perspective
- Retrospective
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Male elite rowers | – | Other: Maximal 6,000-m rowing ergometer test |
| Female elite rowers | – | Other: Maximal 6,000-m rowing ergometer test |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 19 to 24 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
- Study population
- Participants were recruited from the Polish National Rowing Team training at the Olympic Preparation Centre (COS OPO) in Wałcz, Poland.
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Highly trained rowers competing at the national or international level
- Regular participation in structured rowing training
- Current sports medical clearance for maximal exercise testing
- Ability to complete a maximal 6,000-m rowing ergometer test
- Written informed consent to participate in the study
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Acute illness, infection, or injury before testing
- Diagnosed cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological, endocrine, or inflammatory disorder
- Use of medications or supplements that could affect cardiovascular, endocrine, metabolic, or neurochemical responses
- Inability to complete the maximal 6,000-m rowing ergometer test
- Inability or refusal to provide blood samples
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Maximal 6,000-m rowing ergometer testParticipants completed a single maximal 6,000-m rowing ergometer test. The intervention was distinguished by a standardized all-out rowing protocol combined with peripheral blood sampling before exercise, immediately after exercise, and after 1 hour of recovery, as well as noninvasive autonomic and cardiovascular assessment at baseline and 3 hours after exercise. | Other | Female elite rowers, Male elite rowers |
Primary outcome
Change from baseline in serum cortisol concentration
Time frame: Baseline (pre-exercise), 0 minutes post-exercise, and 60 minutes post-exercise.
Marker of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation and exercise-induced endocrine response.
Change from baseline in serum testosterone concentration
Time frame: Baseline (pre-exercise), 0 minutes post-exercise, and 60 minutes post-exercise.
Marker of anabolic status and exercise-induced endocrine response.
Change from baseline in testosterone-to-cortisol ratio (T/C)
Time frame: Baseline (pre-exercise), 0 minutes post-exercise, and 60 minutes post-exercise.
Marker of anabolic-catabolic balance during exercise and recovery.
Change from baseline in serum dopamine concentration
Time frame: Baseline (pre-exercise), 0 minutes post-exercise, and 60 minutes post-exercise.
Peripheral neurochemical marker associated with physiological responses to exercise and recovery.
Change from baseline in serum serotonin concentration
Time frame: Baseline (pre-exercise), 0 minutes post-exercise, and 60 minutes post-exercise.
Peripheral neurochemical marker associated with exercise-induced physiological responses and recovery processes.
Change from baseline in serum gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) concentration
Time frame: Baseline (pre-exercise), 0 minutes post-exercise, and 60 minutes post-exercise.
Peripheral neurochemical marker involved in physiological regulatory processes during exercise and recovery.
Change from baseline in systolic blood pressure (sBP)
Time frame: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 180 minutes post-exercise.
Continuous beat-to-beat systolic blood pressure measured using the Task Force Monitor System.
Change from baseline in diastolic blood pressure (dBP)
Time frame: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 180 minutes post-exercise.
Continuous beat-to-beat diastolic blood pressure measured using the Task Force Monitor System.
Change from baseline in mean blood pressure (mBP)
Time frame: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 180 minutes post-exercise.
Continuous beat-to-beat mean arterial pressure measured using the Task Force Monitor System.
Change from baseline in heart rate (HR)
Time frame: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 180 minutes post-exercise.
Heart rate derived from continuous electrocardiographic recordings.
Change from baseline in total power spectral density of RR intervals (PSD-RRI)
Time frame: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 180 minutes post-exercise.
Total spectral power of heart rate variability obtained from power spectral analysis of RR intervals.
Change from baseline in low-frequency power of RR intervals (LF-RRI)
Time frame: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 180 minutes post-exercise.
Low-frequency component of heart rate variability (0.04-0.15 Hz), reflecting combined sympathetic and parasympathetic modulation.
Change from baseline in high-frequency power of RR intervals (HF-RRI)
Time frame: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 180 minutes post-exercise.
High-frequency component of heart rate variability (0.17-0.40 Hz), considered an indicator of parasympathetic modulation.
Change from baseline in LF/HF ratio
Time frame: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 180 minutes post-exercise.
Ratio of low-frequency to high-frequency spectral power used as an index of sympathovagal balance.
Change from baseline in baroreflex sensitivity (BRS)
Time frame: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 180 minutes post-exercise.
Index of baroreflex function calculated using the spontaneous sequence method.
Change from baseline in baroreflex effectiveness index (BEI)
Time frame: Baseline (pre-exercise) and 180 minutes post-exercise.
Index quantifying the effectiveness of baroreflex-mediated cardiovascular regulation.
1 secondary outcome
Change from baseline in blood lactate concentration
Time frame: Baseline (pre-exercise), 0 minutes post-exercise, and 60 minutes post-exercise.
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 18 Sep 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. Individual participant data sharing has not yet been determined. Future sharing of de-identified data will depend on institutional policies, ethical considerations, participant consent, and planned secondary analyses.
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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.
Anna Skarpańska-Stejnborn, Professor study chair
Poznan University of Physical Education, Gorzów Wielkopolski; Faculty of Sport Sciences in Gorzów Wielkopolski;
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Healhty, run by Poznan University of Physical Education at 1 site in Poland.
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 18 Sep 2026. 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 Poland. 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. 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?
Change from baseline in serum cortisol concentration (time frame: Baseline (pre-exercise), 0 minutes post-exercise, and 60 minutes post-exercise.). The study lists 16 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 18 Sep 2026.