Clinical trial NCT06884644: Local and Systemic Oxygen Saturation During 'Death by Squats' Exercise
Official title: Analysis of Local and Systemic Oxygen Saturation During Monotonous Exercise Using the Example of 'Death by Squats'
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Conditions: Oxygen Saturation
Fatigue
Anaerobic Threshold
Quadriceps Muscle
Lead sponsor: Bundeswehr University Munich
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2025-03-19
Enrollment: 100
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: COHORT
Time perspective: PROSPECTIVE
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Male and female participants of 18 years and older, that are performing a CrossFit class with the EMOM workout "Death by Airsquat".

Brief summary: During the exercise intervention "Death by Squats", which compasses body weight squats until maximum exertion, 25-30 subjects shall be tested for heart rate, the oxygen saturation of the vastus medialis and the triceps, resting and at maximum exertion blood lactate, as well as the rate of perceived exertion on the borg scale. At the end, all should indicate their primary reason for stopping (local fatigue, systemic fatigue, time constraints, motivational deficit).

Detailed description: Subjects in this study will be measured while they are engaged in an exercise protocol until maximum exertion, each in groups of three persons. The overall duration of the study is planned from April 2023 (start of recruitment) until December 2024 (finalization of data acquisition and analysis).

Subjects are executing a CrossFit workout which is planned as follows: Every minute, participants have to perform a given number of Airsquats (bodyweight squat). The first minute starts off with 10 repetitions, the remaining time can be used as a break. In minute two, 12 repetitions have to be done, in minute three 14 repetition, and so on. The subjects stick to this protocol until maximum exertion, in other words, until they are no longer able to execute the given repetitions within the actual minute. During the workout, heart rate is tracked by a 'Polar' chest strap, and the oxygen saturation of the vastus medialis and the triceps are measured using the 'Moxy' muscle oxygen monitor. Further, at rest and at maximum exertion, a blood lactate sample is taken (EKF lactate scout). Subjects rate their perceived exertion on the borg scale after quitting and indicate their primary reason for stopping (local fatigue in legs, systemic fatigue, time constraints).

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* being moderately to severely physically active al least 2 hours/week (all types of sport are eligible)

Exclusion Criteria:

* akute infections, musculoskeletal injuries
* chronic cardiovascular or pulmonary diseases (in case of uncertainty, we recommend appraisal from medical personnel)

Primary outcomes:
measure: Local and systemic SmO2 curve
timeFrame: From the start of the exercise intervention until individual exhaustion (expected between 15 to 30 minutes), with SmO₂ continuously recorded during exercise and final measurement taken immediately upon exhaustion.
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Type of sports practiced
timeFrame: Questionnaire administered within 5 minutes after test completion to assess type of sports practiced.
Other outcomes:
measure: Anthropometric parameters will be assessed
timeFrame: Anthropometric measurements will be taken immediately after the completion of the exercise intervention (expected between 15 to 30 minutes after the start of exercise).
measure: Blood lactate concentration at rest and post-exercise
timeFrame: At rest (prior to exercise) and immediately upon individual exhaustion (expected between 15 to 30 minutes after the start of exercise). Additional post-exercise measurements at 2, 5, and 10 minutes if applicable.
Locations:
city: Munich
country: Germany
facility: University of the Bundeswehr Munich
state: Bayern
Study officials:
References: