The Effectiveness of the Wim Hof Method

NCT ID: NCT05894031

Last Updated: 2023-06-08

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 42 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2022-05-01
• Study Completion Date: 2022-09-30

Brief Summary

The Wim Hof Method is a multi-disciplinary approach to physical and mental well-being combining cold exposure, breathing exercises, and meditation. This study evaluated the effects of a 15-day WHM intervention on cardiovascular parameters at rest and during a cold pressor test, as well as on various psychological parameters.

Detailed Description

The Wim Hof Method (WHM) is a multi-disciplinary approach to physical and mental well-being combining cold exposure, breathing exercises, and meditation. This study evaluated the effects of a 15-day WHM intervention on cardiovascular parameters at rest and during a cold pressor test (CPT), as well as on various psychological parameters.

42 participants were randomized into an intervention (IG) and a control (CG) group. Throughout the 15-day intervention, the IG performed the WHM daily. The intervention followed the guidelines provided by Wim Hof. The intervention comprised three components: cold water exposure, breathing exercise, and meditation. The participants were instructed to perform the WHM daily over the course of 15 days. The participants could choose when to do so throughout the day, however, the components were to be performed in a strict, sequential order: breathing exercises, followed by meditation, and then cold exposure. Participants were asked to complete a daily log in which they documented whether they performed the procedure and for how long. Altogether, the procedure lasted about 15 minutes. The CG did not receive an intervention throughout the intervention period.

Before and after the intervention, systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse wave velocity (PWV), heart rate (HR), root mean sum of squared distance (RMSSD), and standard deviation of intervals between successive heartbeats (SDNN) were assessed at rest and during a CPT. Furthermore, perceived stress (PSS), positive affect (PANAS+), negative affect (PANAS-), and subjective vitality (trait (SVSt) and state (SVSs)) was determined.

Conditions

Healthy; Blood Pressure; Cold Exposure; Stress

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Intervention

The intervention group was instructed to perform the Wim Hof Method daily over the course of 15 days. The participants could choose when to do so throughout the day, however, the components were to be performed in a strict, sequential order: breathing exercises, followed by meditation, and then cold exposure. Participants were asked to complete a daily log in which they documented whether they performed the procedure and for how long. Altogether, the procedure lasted about 15 minutes.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Wim Hof Method

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The intervention followed the guidelines provided by Wim Hof. The intervention comprised three components: cold water exposure, breathing exercise, and meditation.The participants were instructed to perform the WHM daily over the course of 15 days. The participants could choose when to do so throughout the day, however, the components were to be performed in a strict, sequential order: breathing exercises, followed by meditation, and then cold exposure. Participants were asked to complete a daily log in which they documented whether they performed the procedure and for how long. Altogether, the procedure lasted about 15 minutes.

Control

The control group received noch intervention throughout the intervention period.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Wim Hof Method

The intervention followed the guidelines provided by Wim Hof. The intervention comprised three components: cold water exposure, breathing exercise, and meditation.The participants were instructed to perform the WHM daily over the course of 15 days. The participants could choose when to do so throughout the day, however, the components were to be performed in a strict, sequential order: breathing exercises, followed by meditation, and then cold exposure. Participants were asked to complete a daily log in which they documented whether they performed the procedure and for how long. Altogether, the procedure lasted about 15 minutes.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Being male
• No underlying health conditions
• Not using antihypertensive or other cardiovascular medications
• Not engaging in regular exercise training
• Written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

• Having prior experience with any of the components of the intervention (breathing, meditation, or cold exposure)

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 65 Years
• Eligible Sex: MALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University of Bern

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Sascha Ketelhut, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Bern

Locations

University of Bern

Bern, , Switzerland

Countries

Switzerland

References

Ketelhut S, Benzing V, Zehnder C, Amor L, Schurch Y, Burger M, Schmid S, Nigg CR. Effects of exergaming versus endurance training on cardiorespiratory fitness and hemodynamic parameters: a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2025 Jul;125(7):1817-1830. doi: 10.1007/s00421-025-05743-z. Epub 2025 Mar 11.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 40067458 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

2022-04-00004

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id