Clinical trial NCT06928311: This Study Explores Whether Adding Natural Elements Like Plants and Sunlight to Indoor Gyms Makes Exercise Feel Easier, More Enjoyable, and Improves Performance. By Comparing Workouts in Nature-inspired and Plain Gym Settings, it Aims to Find Better Ways to Design Fitness Spaces in Cities.
Official title: Examining the Influence of Biophilic Design on College Students' Exercise Performance: A Crossover Study
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Biophilic Environmental Design
Traditional Exercise Design
Keywords: Exercise
Biophilia
Environmental Design
Mood
Exercise Enjoyment
Lead sponsor: Colorado State University
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2025-04-15
Enrollment: 24
Sex: MALE
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 25
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: CROSSOVER
Intervention model description: Participants will be randomized into the biophilia group or the traditional group - that will be the environment that they start in. They will then go through a week wash out and then will go into the other environment for their exercise test.
Primary purpose: OTHER

Brief summary: The goal of this observational study is to examine whether exercising in a biophilic environment - a space designed to include natural elements like real plants, simulated sunlight, nature sounds, and outdoor views - can improve exercise performance and enjoyment compared to a standard indoor gym environment in male college students age 18-25 who have regularly exercised prior.

The main question it aims to answer is: "Can biophilic design enhance the physical and mental benefits of indoor exercise?"

Researchers will compare the two environments to see if there is any changes in exercise performance and enjoyment for each participant.

Participants will complete a treadmill fitness test in both settings to compare physical outcomes like maximal aerobic capacity, so the maximal amount of oxygen one can use during exercise, as well as perceived effort. After each treadmill test participants will be given surveys where they will be asked to evaluate their mood and enjoyment in that environment.


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Men between 18 and 25 years

Exclusion Criteria:

* Resting BP greater than 140/90
* Resting HR greater than 100 bpm
* BMI greater than 30 kg/m\^2
* inability to exercise at moderate to vigorous intensities
* major illness/health complication in the past

Primary outcomes:
measure: Maximal Aerobic Capacity (VO2Max)
timeFrame: Testing Day 1
measure: Maximal Aerobic Capacity (VO2Max)
timeFrame: Testing Day 2
measure: Rate of Perceived Exertion
timeFrame: Every minute during testing day 1
measure: Rate of Perceived Exertion
timeFrame: Every minute during testing day 2
measure: Mood and Enjoyment Survey
timeFrame: Post Test Day 1
measure: Mood and Enjoyment Survey
timeFrame: Post Test Day 2
measure: VO2 Plateau Duration
timeFrame: Post Test Day 1
measure: VO2 Plateau Duration
timeFrame: Post Test Day 2
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Heart Rate
timeFrame: During Testing Day 1 and 2
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Fort Collins
country: United States
facility: Colorado State University Cardio Room (Moby Arena 134)
state: Colorado
Study officials:
affiliation: Colorado State University
name: Kaigang Li
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: