Acute Responses to Walking, Stair Climbing, and Functional Circuit Exercise

Malatya Turgut Ozal University30 enrolled

Overview

This study evaluated the acute physiological responses to three different exercise modalities in sedentary young men. Participants completed walking, stair climbing, and functional circuit exercise sessions in a randomized crossover design. Each exercise session lasted 20 minutes and was performed at a target intensity of 50% heart rate reserve (±5 beats/min), with at least 72 hours between sessions. The study compared acute respiratory, metabolic, and neuromotor responses to the three exercise modalities. Pulmonary function was assessed using spirometry, blood lactate concentration was measured using capillary blood samples, and countermovement jump performance was assessed as an indicator of neuromuscular performance. Heart rate was continuously monitored during each exercise session.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Sedentary Behaviors

Interventions

Stair Climbing ProtocolBEHAVIORAL

Participants performed a 20-minute stair climbing exercise session at a target intensity of 50% heart rate reserve (HRR), maintained within ±5 beats/min of the individual target heart rate. Heart rate was continuously monitored throughout the exercise session.

Functional Circuit ProtocolBEHAVIORAL

Participants performed a 20-minute functional circuit exercise session at a target intensity of 50% heart rate reserve (HRR), maintained within ±5 beats/min of the individual target heart rate. The circuit consisted of chair sit-to-stand, reverse lunges, wall push-ups, high-knee marching, and low-impact mountain climbers performed on an elevated surface. Heart rate was continuously monitored throughout the exercise session.

Eligibility

Sex: MALEMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 30 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Male sex. * Aged 18-30 years. * Classified as sedentary/insufficiently active according to the study eligibility criteria. * Able to safely complete the exercise protocols and study assessments. * Provided voluntary informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Current cigarette or electronic cigarette use. * Known cardiovascular, respiratory, or metabolic disease. * Regular medication use that could affect physiological responses to exercise. * Acute infection within the previous 2 weeks. * Musculoskeletal conditions that could interfere with safe participation in the exercise protocols. * Any condition requiring medical evaluation before exercise participation. * Inability to obtain acceptable baseline spirometry measurements according to the study procedures.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second (FEV1)

Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was measured by spirometry before and 5 minutes after each exercise condition. The primary outcome was the change in FEV1 (ΔFEV1), calculated as post-exercise FEV1 minus pre-exercise FEV1 and expressed in liters (L). Measurements were obtained following standardized spirometry procedures.

Time frame: Baseline and 5 minutes after each exercise session

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)

Forced vital capacity (FVC) was measured by spirometry before and 5 minutes after each exercise condition. The outcome was the change in FVC (ΔFVC), calculated as post-exercise FVC minus pre-exercise FVC and expressed in liters (L).

Time frame: Baseline and 5 minutes after each exercise session

Change in FEV1/FVC Ratio

The FEV1/FVC ratio was assessed by spirometry before and 5 minutes after each exercise condition. The outcome was the change in FEV1/FVC ratio (ΔFEV1/FVC), calculated as the post-exercise value minus the pre-exercise value.

Time frame: Baseline and 5 minutes after each exercise session

Change in Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF)

Peak expiratory flow (PEF) was measured by spirometry before and 5 minutes after each exercise condition. The outcome was the change in PEF (ΔPEF), calculated as the post-exercise PEF minus the pre-exercise PEF and expressed in liters per second (L/s).

Time frame: Baseline and 5 minutes after each exercise session

Change in Blood Lactate Concentration

Capillary blood lactate concentration was measured before exercise and 3 minutes after each exercise condition. The outcome was the change in blood lactate concentration (ΔLactate), calculated as the post-exercise value minus the pre-exercise value and expressed in millimoles per liter (mmol/L).

Time frame: Baseline and 3 minutes after each exercise session

Change in Countermovement Jump Height (CMJ)

Countermovement jump (CMJ) height was assessed before and after each exercise condition. The outcome was the change in CMJ height (ΔCMJ), calculated as the post-exercise value minus the pre-exercise value and expressed in centimeters (cm).

Time frame: Baseline and immediately after post-exercise spirometry initiated at 5 minutes after each exercise session

Mean Heart Rate During Exercise

Heart rate was continuously monitored throughout each exercise condition. Mean heart rate was calculated across the exercise period and expressed in beats per minute (bpm).

Time frame: During each 20-minute exercise session

Maximum Heart Rate During Exercise

Heart rate was continuously monitored throughout each exercise condition. Maximum heart rate was defined as the highest heart rate recorded during the exercise period and expressed in beats per minute (bpm).

Time frame: During each 20-minute exercise session

Time Spent in the Target Heart Rate Range

Heart rate was continuously monitored throughout each exercise condition. The outcome was the percentage of exercise time during which heart rate remained within ±5 beats/min of the individualized target heart rate corresponding to 50% heart rate reserve (HRR)

Time frame: During each 20-minute exercise session

Acute Responses to Walking, Stair Climbing, and Functional Circuit Exercise

Overview

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes