An interventional study of TEC Vest and No Pre-Cooling (Without Vest) in Heat Stroke, sponsored by Kaohsiung Medical University. Active, not recruiting at 1 site in Taiwan. Open to participants aged 20 Years to 50 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-20.
Sponsored by Kaohsiung Medical University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Basic science
This project investigates the effectiveness of pre-exercise active cooling using a temperature-controlled cooling vest in reducing heat-related physiological strain during endurance-type aerobic exercise in non-regularly trained ("weekend") athletes under hot and humid environmental conditions. Because these individuals often lack sufficient heat-acclimation training, they are at increased risk of excessive thermal stress, cardiovascular overload, and heat-related disorders during prolonged exercise.
Using a controlled laboratory design, participants will perform moderate-intensity endurance exercise in a simulated hot environment, with or without pre-cooling intervention. Peripheral circulation and thermoregulatory responses will be assessed through laser Doppler flowmetry based skin blood-flow analysis and infrared thermography, alongside heart rate and perceived exertion measures.
The study aims to clarify how active pre-cooling influences vascular regulation, sympathetic activity, skin temperature distribution, and exercise tolerance, and to evaluate its potential as a practical, non-fatiguing alternative to heat-acclimation training. The findings are expected to provide evidence-based guidance for reducing heat strain and improving exercise safety and comfort in recreational endurance athletes exercising in hot climates.
The primary aim of this study is to investigate the effects of pre-exercise active cooling using a temperature-controlled vest on peripheral vascular regulation mechanisms in non-regular endurance exercisers under hot environmental conditions. Specifically, this study seeks to quantify how pre-cooling modulates skin blood-flow dynamics, sympathetic nervous system activity, endothelial function, and myogenic vascular control, as assessed through frequency-domain analysis of laser Doppler flowmetry signals, before and after endurance-type aerobic exercise. By characterizing these microcirculatory responses alongside changes in skin-surface temperature measured via infrared thermography, the study aims to elucidate the physiological pathways through which active pre-cooling attenuates thermal strain and cardiovascular load during exercise in the heat.
21 studies on the registry are indexed under Heat Stroke; 10 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 30 is below the median of 34 across 13 interventional studies indexed under Heat Stroke.
Browse Heat Stroke studies →Kaohsiung Medical University is the lead sponsor of 56 studies on the registry; 17 are open to participants now.
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Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Diabetes, hypertension, or peripheral vascular disease.
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
BMI (body mass index)
Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.
What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Arm 1: Pre-Cooling with TEC Vest Participants receive pre-cooling using a temperature-controlled cooling vest (tec) for 30 mins prior to the exercise trial.
Device: TEC Vest
Arm 2: No Pre-Cooling Participants complete the same exercise trial without any cooling intervention (no vest).
Other: No Pre-Cooling (Without Vest)
Pre-Cooling with Water Cooled Vest Participants receive pre-cooling using a water cooled vest for 30 mins prior to the exercise trial.
Device: Water Cooled Vest
Intervention 1: Active Pre-Cooling Vest Type: Device (active cooling garment) Timing: 30 minutes before exercise (pre-cooling period) Procedure: Participants wear the temperature-controlled vest in a hot/humid lab setting before the endurance aerobic exercise test. Purpose: Reduce thermal strain and cardiovascular load; improve comfort; modulate peripheral circulation responses.
Intervention 2: No Pre-Cooling Without Vest Type: No intervention / usual condition Timing: 30 min Duration Procedure: Participants rest quietly for the same pre-exercise duration without wearing a cooling vest, then complete the identical warm-up and exercise protocol.
Type: Device (active cooling garment) Timing: 30 minutes before exercise (pre-cooling period) Procedure: Participants wear the water cooled vest in a hot/humid lab setting before the endurance aerobic exercise test. Purpose: Reduce thermal strain and cardiovascular load; improve comfort; modulate peripheral circulation responses.
Heart Rate
Time frame: During a single laboratory visit lasting approx. 40 minutes: baseline immediately before the pre cooling period,immediately after 30 minutes of pre cooling,immediately after the 5 minute exercise bout, and immediately after the 5 minute seated cool down.
Temperature
Time frame: During a single laboratory visit lasting approx.40 minutes: baseline immediately before the pre cooling period, immediately after 30 minutes of pre cooling,immediately after the 5 minute exercise bout, and immediately after the 5 minute seated cool down.
PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.
Plan to share: Undecided
Started Feb 2026 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Feb 2027, 12 months after the start.
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This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Apr 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Kaohsiung Medical University