NCT07086495

Effects of Aromatherapy After Aerobic Exercise"

The Effect of Aromatherapy Application on Recovery Speed and Cardiovascular Parameters After Aerobic Exercise in Athletes

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 45 (actual)
• Sponsor: Bezmialem Vakif University · Academic / Other
• Sex: Male
• Age: 12 Years – 14 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study aims to investigate the effect of aromatherapy using lavender oil on recovery speed and cardiovascular parameters in healthy athletes following aerobic exercise. Participants will perform aerobic exercise using the Bruce treadmill protocol and will be randomly assigned to either an aromatherapy group (inhaling lavender essential oil) or a control group (no aromatherapy). Heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, perceived exertion, and fatigue levels will be measured before and after exercise. The study seeks to determine whether aromatherapy contributes to faster physiological recovery and reduced fatigue following exercise.

Detailed description

Aromatherapy has gained popularity as a complementary approach in sports science, with claims of improving relaxation, reducing fatigue, and enhancing recovery. Lavender essential oil, in particular, has been associated with cardiovascular modulation and reduced perception of exertion. However, its efficacy in post-exercise recovery among athletes remains under-investigated. This randomized controlled trial will evaluate the physiological and perceptual effects of lavender aromatherapy in athletes following aerobic exertion. Participants aged 15-35 with at least 6 months of regular sports participation will be included. The intervention group will receive inhalation-based lavender oil aromatherapy for 5 minutes after completing the Bruce treadmill protocol, while the control group will rest without aromatherapy. Primary and secondary outcomes include heart rate recovery, blood pressure, oxygen saturation (SpO₂), Borg RPE score, and fatigue severity. Data will be collected at baseline, immediately after exercise, and at 5-minute intervals during recovery. The findings are expected to provide insights into the use of non-pharmacological recovery strategies in athletic populations.

Conditions

• Sports Recovery
• Sports Performance

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Aromatherapy	Participants inhaled lavender essential oil (3 drops in 100 ml water) via diffuser during a 15-minute post-exercise recovery period following the Bruce treadmill protocol.
OTHER	Placebo Diffuser (No Essential Oil)	Participants were exposed to plain water vapor (100 ml of water without essential oil) via diffuser for 15 minutes during post-exercise recovery.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-01-10
• Primary completion: 2024-10-16
• Completion: 2024-11-10
• First posted: 2025-07-25
• Last updated: 2025-07-25

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)