Recruiting

Heat Exchange

Sponsor:

University of Ottawa

Code:

NCT07174180

Conditions

Heat Stress

Temperature Change, Body

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: Female

Age: 18 - 35

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

Exercise-heat stress with no hijab

Exercise-heat stress with a hijab

Study Details

Brief summary:

The hijab (headscarf and cloak) is a Muslim dress, which covers the head, neck and chest, and conceals the female hair, leaving the face uncovered. It is worn by Muslim women worldwide including young Muslim women engaging in sports and exercise. As with any clothing worn on the body, the hijab can impact heat dissipation during exercise, potentially leading to increased body temperature and discomfort, especially in warmer environments. However, the extent to which the hijab may restrict heat loss remains unclear. This study aims to assess dry and evaporative heat exchange in young women performing moderate-intensity intermittent exercise in dry heat conditions (40°C, 15% relative humidity).

Conditions

Heat Stress

Temperature Change, Body

Study ID

NCT07174180

Start date

Jun 13, 2025

Status verified date

Jun, 2026

Completion date

Dec 31, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Oct 16, 2025

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: Female

Age: 18 - 35

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • healthy young female (18-35 years)
  • non smoking
  • English or French speaking
  • ability to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • claustrophobia
  • engaged in endurance training
  • acute or chronic illness
  • sedentary (not engaged in any form of physical activity)
  • physical restriction limiting physical activity

Study Design

Enrollment

12 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Crossover

Primary purpose

Basic Science

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: No hijab

Participants rest in a thermoneutral resting condition for 30-min (baseline resting) while wearing a cotton t-shirt and shorts, after which they enter a chamber regulated at 40°C where they perform an intermittent exercise bout consisting of two, 30-min moderate-intensity exercise bouts (fixed rate of heat production of 200 W/m2), with each exercise bout separated by a 15 min rest break and a 60-min recovery following the second exercise bout.

experimental: Hijab

Participants rest in a thermoneutral resting condition for 30-min (baseline resting) while wearing a hijab over cotton t-shir and shorts, after which they enter a chamber regulated at 40°C where they perform an intermittent exercise bout consisting of two, 30-min moderate-intensity exercise bouts (fixed rate of heat production of 200 W/m2), with each exercise bout separated by a 15 min rest break and a 60-min recovery following the second exercise bout.

Interventions

Exercise-heat stress with no hijab

Participants perform exercise in the heat with no hijab

Exercise-heat stress with a hijab

Participants perform exercise in the heat with a hijab

Primary outcome measure

  • Evaporative heat loss at end exercise [ Time Frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout ]
  • Dry heat loss at end exercise [ Time Frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout ]
  • Total heat loss at end exercise [ Time Frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout ]
  • Body heat storage [ Time Frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout ]
  • Change in body heat content [ Time Frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout ]
  • Core temperature [ Time Frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout ]
  • Mean skin temperature [ Time Frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout ]
  • Relative change in core temperature at end exercise [ Time Frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout ]
  • Relative change in mean skin temperature at end exercise [ Time Frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout ]
  • Heart rate [ Time Frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout ]
  • Rating of perceived exertion [ Time Frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout ]
  • Thermal sensation A [ Time Frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout ]
  • Thermal sensation B [ Time Frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout ]
  • Thirst sensation [ Time Frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Glen P Kenny, PhD

6135625800gkenny@uottawa.ca

Locations

University of Ottawa

Recruiting

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N6N5

Contacts

Glen P Kenny, PhD

6135625800gkenny@uottawa.ca

More Information

Sponsor

University of Ottawa

Last update posted

Jun 16, 2026

Last verified

Jun, 2026

Keywords

  • Core temperature
  • Exercise
  • Females
  • Garment
  • Heat strain
  • Thermoregulation
  • Hot weather

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Ottawa on 2026-06-16.