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A Randomized Crossover Trial on Acute Stress-Related Physiological Responses to Mountain Hiking

Author

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  • Martin Niedermeier

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Fürstenweg 185, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

  • Carina Grafetstätter

    (Institute of Ecomedicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Strubergasse 22, 5020 Salzburg, Austria)

  • Arnulf Hartl

    (Institute of Ecomedicine, Paracelsus Medical University, Strubergasse 22, 5020 Salzburg, Austria)

  • Martin Kopp

    (Department of Sport Science, University of Innsbruck, Fürstenweg 185, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria)

Abstract

Green exercise, defined as physical activity in natural environments, might have positive effects on stress-related physiological measures. Little is known about the acute effects of green exercise bouts lasting longer than 60 min. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyze the acute effects of a three-hour green exercise intervention (mountain hiking) on stress-related physiological responses. Using a randomized crossover design, 42 healthy participants were exposed to three different conditions in a field-based experiment: outdoor mountain hiking, indoor treadmill walking, and sedentary control condition (three hours each). At baseline and at follow-up (five minutes after the condition), stress-related physiological responses (salivary cortisol, blood pressure, and heart rate variability) were measured. Salivary cortisol decreased in all conditions, but showed a larger decrease after both mountain hiking and treadmill walking compared to the sedentary control situation (partial η 2 = 0.10). No differences were found between mountain hiking and treadmill walking in salivary cortisol. In heart rate variability and blood pressure, changes from baseline to follow-up did not significantly differ between the three conditions. The results indicate that three hours of hiking indoors or outdoors elicits positive effects on salivary cortisol concentration. Environmental effects seem to play a minor role in salivary cortisol, blood pressure, and heart rate variability.

Suggested Citation

  • Martin Niedermeier & Carina Grafetstätter & Arnulf Hartl & Martin Kopp, 2017. "A Randomized Crossover Trial on Acute Stress-Related Physiological Responses to Mountain Hiking," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:8:p:905-:d:107866
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Daniela Haluza & Regina Schönbauer & Renate Cervinka, 2014. "Green Perspectives for Public Health: A Narrative Review on the Physiological Effects of Experiencing Outdoor Nature," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-17, May.
    2. Martin Niedermeier & Jürgen Einwanger & Arnulf Hartl & Martin Kopp, 2017. "Affective responses in mountain hiking—A randomized crossover trial focusing on differences between indoor and outdoor activity," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(5), pages 1-17, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Philipp Schlemmer & Cornelia Blank & Martin Schnitzer, 2019. "Does Physical Activity during Alpine Vacations Increase Tourists’ Well-Being?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-14, May.
    2. Yunjeong Yi & Eunju Seo & Jiyeon An, 2022. "Does Forest Therapy Have Physio-Psychological Benefits? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-21, August.
    3. Jürgen Schmude & Markus Pillmayer & Maximilian Witting & Philipp Corradini, 2021. "Geography Matters, But… Evolving Success Factors for Nature-Oriented Health Tourism within Selected Alpine Destinations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(10), pages 1-18, May.
    4. Ian Lahart & Patricia Darcy & Christopher Gidlow & Giovanna Calogiuri, 2019. "The Effects of Green Exercise on Physical and Mental Wellbeing: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-26, April.
    5. Martin Niedermeier & Larissa Ledochowski & Hartmann Leitner & Helmut Zingerle & Martin Kopp, 2021. "Acute Effects of a Single Bout of Walking on Affective Responses in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-12, February.
    6. Sujin Park & Eunsoo Kim & Geonwoo Kim & Soojin Kim & Yeji Choi & Domyung Paek, 2022. "What Activities in Forests Are Beneficial for Human Health? A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(5), pages 1-29, February.
    7. Martin Niedermeier & Carina Grafetstätter & Martin Kopp & Daniela Huber & Michaela Mayr & Christina Pichler & Arnulf Hartl, 2019. "The Role of Anthropogenic Elements in the Environment for Affective States and Cortisol Concentration in Mountain Hiking—A Crossover Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-16, January.
    8. Ana Mª Pérez Pico & Ester Mingorance Álvarez & Rodrigo Martínez Quintana & Raquel Mayordomo Acevedo, 2019. "Importance of Sock Type in the Development of Foot Lesions on Low-Difficulty, Short Hikes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-13, May.
    9. Arnulf Josef Hartl & Johanna Freidl & Daniela Huber, 2023. "Effects of Alpine Natural Health Resources on Human Health and Wellbeing," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(12), pages 1-3, June.
    10. R. W. Salatto & Graham R. McGinnis & Dustin W. Davis & Bryson Carrier & Jacob W. Manning & Mark DeBeliso & James W. Navalta, 2021. "Effects of Acute Beta-Alanine Ingestion and Immersion-Plus-Exercise on Connectedness to Nature and Perceived Pain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-12, July.
    11. Reo Jones & Robin Tarter & Amy Miner Ross, 2021. "Greenspace Interventions, Stress and Cortisol: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-21, March.
    12. Jonah D’Angelo & Stephen D. Ritchie & Bruce Oddson & Dominique D. Gagnon & Tomasz Mrozewski & Jim Little & Sebastien Nault, 2023. "Using Heart Rate Variability Methods for Health-Related Outcomes in Outdoor Contexts: A Scoping Review of Empirical Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(2), pages 1-19, January.

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