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.

Examining the Influence of Biophilic Design on College Students' Exercise Performance: A Crossover Study

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 25 (actual)
• Sponsor: Colorado State University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 18 Years – 25 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

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.

Conditions

• Biophilic Environmental Design
• Traditional Exercise Design

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Exercise Environment	This intervention focused around the environmental design of the exercise room.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-04-04
• Primary completion: 2025-10-16
• Completion: 2025-11-01
• First posted: 2025-04-15
• Last updated: 2025-12-17

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States