Clinical trial NCT05894031: The Effectiveness of the Wim Hof Method
Official title: The Effectiveness of the Wim Hof Method on Cardiac Autonomic Function, Blood Pressure, Arterial Compliance, and Different Psychological Parameters
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Healthy
Blood Pressure
Cold Exposure
Stress
Keywords: Blood pressure
Hemodynamics
Heart rate variability
Perceived stress
Meditation
Cold exposure
Breathing-method
Lead sponsor: University of Bern
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2023-06-08
Enrollment: 42
Sex: MALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 65
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: Randomized controlled trial with parallel arms
Primary purpose: PREVENTION

Brief summary: The Wim Hof Method is a multi-disciplinary approach to physical and mental well-being combining cold exposure, breathing exercises, and meditation. This study evaluated the effects of a 15-day WHM intervention on cardiovascular parameters at rest and during a cold pressor test, as well as on various psychological parameters.

Detailed description: The Wim Hof Method (WHM) is a multi-disciplinary approach to physical and mental well-being combining cold exposure, breathing exercises, and meditation. This study evaluated the effects of a 15-day WHM intervention on cardiovascular parameters at rest and during a cold pressor test (CPT), as well as on various psychological parameters.

42 participants were randomized into an intervention (IG) and a control (CG) group. Throughout the 15-day intervention, the IG performed the WHM daily. The intervention followed the guidelines provided by Wim Hof. The intervention comprised three components: cold water exposure, breathing exercise, and meditation. The participants were instructed to perform the WHM daily over the course of 15 days. The participants could choose when to do so throughout the day, however, the components were to be performed in a strict, sequential order: breathing exercises, followed by meditation, and then cold exposure. Participants were asked to complete a daily log in which they documented whether they performed the procedure and for how long. Altogether, the procedure lasted about 15 minutes. The CG did not receive an intervention throughout the intervention period.

Before and after the intervention, systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse wave velocity (PWV), heart rate (HR), root mean sum of squared distance (RMSSD), and standard deviation of intervals between successive heartbeats (SDNN) were assessed at rest and during a CPT. Furthermore, perceived stress (PSS), positive affect (PANAS+), negative affect (PANAS-), and subjective vitality (trait (SVSt) and state (SVSs)) was determined.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Being male
* No underlying health conditions
* Not using antihypertensive or other cardiovascular medications
* Not engaging in regular exercise training
* Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Having prior experience with any of the components of the intervention (breathing, meditation, or cold exposure)

Primary outcomes:
measure: Change from baseline in the mean systolic blood pressure
timeFrame: 15 days
measure: Change from baseline in the mean diastolic blood pressure
timeFrame: 15 days
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Change from baseline in the mean pulse wave velocity
timeFrame: 15 days
measure: Change from baseline in the mean heart rate variability
timeFrame: 15 days
measure: Change from baseline in positive affect
timeFrame: 15 days
measure: Change from baseline in negative affect
timeFrame: 15 days
measure: Change in subjective vitality
timeFrame: 15 days
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Bern
country: Switzerland
facility: University of Bern
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Bern
name: Sascha Ketelhut, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: