Plants and sunlight boost gym performance, study suggests

NCT ID NCT06928311

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study looked at whether exercising in a room with natural elements like plants, simulated sunlight, and nature sounds improves performance and enjoyment compared to a standard gym. Twenty-five male college students did treadmill tests in both settings. Researchers measured oxygen use, heart rate, and how hard the exercise felt, along with mood and enjoyment surveys.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

What this could lead to

If it works, this could point toward simple ways to make indoor exercise more effective and enjoyable by adding natural elements.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early study with only 25 male college students, so results may not apply to everyone. The effect may be small or not meaningful in real-world settings.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Motor Activity

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Colorado State University Cardio Room (Moby Arena 134)

    Fort Collins, Colorado, 80521, United States