Breath-Hold workouts could give mountaineers an edge
NCT ID NCT07703839
First seen Jul 14, 2026 · Last updated Jul 21, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This study tests whether adding brief, controlled breath-holds to treadmill interval training improves cardiorespiratory fitness more than interval training alone. Twenty-four male recreational mountaineers will follow an 8-week program, with one group performing structured breath-holds during exercise and the other breathing freely. Researchers will measure changes in resting heart rate, estimated maximal oxygen uptake, and blood pressure to see if this mild hypoventilation technique offers extra benefits for altitude preparation.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- a breathing maneuver called voluntary hypoventilation training (VHT) involving structured breath-holds during exercise
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this technique could help mountaineers and athletes improve fitness and prepare for high altitudes without special equipment.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early study in healthy men only, so results may not apply to women or less fit individuals. The breath-hold method may not provide extra benefit over standard training.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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24 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Sep 2023
- Finished
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Nov 2023
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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25 to 35 years
- Sex
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Male participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Male recreational mountaineers aged 25 to 35 years. * A minimum of 6 months of mountaineering experience with at least 3 sessions per month. * Willingness to attend at least 85% of the scheduled training sessions. * Negative responses to all items on the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q). Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed cardiovascular, respiratory, or musculoskeletal disorders. * Current smoking. * Use of medications affecting heart rate or blood pressure. * Prior experience with structured hypoxic or breath-hold training.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Sport Sciences Department, University of Sistan and Baluchestan
Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchestan, 98135-986, Iran
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