Temperature-dependent Changes in Cardiovascular Parameters During Warm Water Footbaths in Healthy Women

Temperature-dependent Changes in Cardiovascular Parameters During Warm Water Footbaths in Healthy Female Volunteers - a Blinded, Randomized, Controlled, Four-arm Study With Cross-over Design

A study to explore whether different temperatures of warm water footbaths have different effects on the cardiovascular system, the autonomic nervous system and the general well-being of healthy women.

This is a blinded, four-arm randomized controlled trial with crossover design to explore the effects of warm water footbaths with different water temperatures on cardiovascular stress, reaction of the autonomic nervous system and a feeling of comfort and warmth in healthy female volunteers. Cardiovascular and ANS measurements are performed continuously throughout the interventions and the participants rate their feelings of warmth, general well-being and the footbath-related comfort with questionnaires.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Written informed consent
• Age between 18 and 55 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• Male sex
• Chronic skin lesions at the lower legs or feet
• Varicose veins grade 3 and grade 4 (Marshall stage classification), chronic venous insufficiency
• Cardiac arrhythmia
• Cardiac pacemaker
• Asthma bronchiale
• Consumption of HRV-modulating medication (especially tricyclic antidepressants, beta blockers)
• Pregnancy
• Insufficient knowledge of the German language