LifestyleExercise

Total physical activity moderates the effect of exercise type on high-altitude acclimatization among college students

In a cluster-randomized controlled trial, 295 college students at high altitude participated in either basketball or badminton for 18 weeks. The effect of exercise type on high-altitude acclimatization was significantly moderated by total physical activity (interaction B = -2.9965, p = 0.0056), with badminton showing better adaptation than basketball only at high activity levels. Sleep quality did not mediate this relationship.

Last updated: Aug 20, 2026•1 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score44/100
Human RCT★★☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Effects of exercise type and total physical activity on high-altitude acclimatization among college students.

observational

Xi M, Tian C, Ou Y, Lu R, Wang C, Li H · Frontiers in psychology (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: 18 weeks
Intervention: 18-week standardized exercise intervention (basketball vs. badminton)
Outcome: High-altitude acclimatization score (High-Altitude Adaptation Scale), sleep quality (PSQI), total physical activity (IPAQ)
Effect Size: N/A (interaction B = -2.9965, p = 0.0056)
Population: College students (sophomores) living at high altitude (N=295)

Result:

PubMed: 42602023DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1848841

Mechanism Graph

Exercise type influences high-altitude acclimatization
↓
Total physical activity moderates this effect
↓
At high activity levels, badminton leads to better acclimatization than basketball
↓
Sleep quality does not mediate the pathway

Limitations

  • ⚠Post-test only design without baseline measures
  • ⚠No significant mediation effect of sleep quality, so underlying mechanism remains unclear
  • ⚠Specific exercise types (basketball and badminton) may limit generalizability to other sports

Frequently Asked Questions

Which exercise type is better for high-altitude acclimatization?▼

Badminton was associated with better acclimatization than basketball, but only when total physical activity was high.

Does sleep quality mediate the effect of exercise on acclimatization?▼

No, sleep quality did not show a significant mediating effect in this study.

What was the duration of the exercise intervention?▼

The intervention lasted 18 weeks.

Who were the participants in this study?▼

The study included 295 college sophomores living at high altitude.

Products

Affiliate links coming soon. We only recommend products that match the doses and forms used in the cited research.

References

  1. 1.Xi M, Tian C, Ou Y, Lu R, Wang C, Li H. "Effects of exercise type and total physical activity on high-altitude acclimatization among college students.." Frontiers in psychology, 2026. PMID: 42602023 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1848841
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.