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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04210895

Efficacy of Footbaths With Ginger Powder on Subjectively Perceived Quality of Sleep

A randomized, controlled trial to explore whether warm footbaths with added ginger powder can improve the sleep quality of adults with self-perceived insomnia symptoms. Participants receive daily footbaths either with warm water alone or with added ginger powder over a period of 2 weeks.

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Key information

Conditions

Nonorganic Insomnia Dyssomnias Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders Sleep Wake Disorders

Age range

18 year–70 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Arcim Institute

Filderstadt, Baden-Wurttemberg, 70794, Germany

About this study

This is a randomized controlled trial with parallel group design to explore the effects of warm water footbaths with added ginger powder (experimental) compared to footbaths with warm water alone (active comparator) on sleep quality in adults with self-perceived insomnia symptoms. Participants receive daily footbaths 1-3 hours before bedtime over a period of two weeks. The footbaths are prepared by the participants themselves and carried out at their homes. Outcome measures are assessed at baseline (pre intervention) and two weeks after baseline (post intervention). The main focus is on change in subjective quality of sleep as assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The statistical analysis comprises analyses of variance based on linear mixed effects models.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • written informed consent
  • age between 18 and 70 years
  • self-reported insomnia symptoms

Exclusion criteria

  • known organic insomnia (e.g. periodic leg movements during sleep, restless legs syndrome, sleep apnea syndrome, narcolepsy)
  • current intake of allopathic hypnotics
  • shift work
  • skin lesions at the lower legs or feet
  • known intolerance or hypersensitivity to ginger preparations
  • acute mental disorder
  • varicose vein (degree 3 or 4, classification according to Marshall), chronic venous insufficiency
  • pregnancy
  • participation in other studies
  • insufficient knowledge of the german language

Treatment and study plan

Ginger powder footbath

Other

40 ± 2 ° C warm water footbath with an additive of dried ginger powder reaching up to mid-calf level

Warm water only footbath

Other

40 ± 2 ° C warm water footbath without any additive reaching up to mid-calf level

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in global PSQI Score

    Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), 2 weeks after baseline (post intervention)

    Global score of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, score between 0=positive extreme and 21=negative extreme

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in subjective sleep quality as assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)

    Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), 2 weeks after baseline (post intervention)

    Scale of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, score between 0=positive extreme and 3=negative extreme

  2. Change in sleep latency as assessed by the PSQI

    Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), 2 weeks after baseline (post intervention)

    Scale of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, score between 0=positive extreme and 3=negative extreme

  3. Change in sleep duration as assessed by the PSQI

    Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), 2 weeks after baseline (post intervention)

    Scale of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, score between 0=positive extreme and 3=negative extreme

  4. Change in sleep efficiency as assessed by the PSQI

    Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), 2 weeks after baseline (post intervention)

    Scale of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, score between 0=positive extreme and 3=negative extreme

  5. Change in sleep disturbance as assessed by the PSQI

    Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), 2 weeks after baseline (post intervention)

    Scale of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, score between 0=positive extreme and 3=negative extreme

  6. Change in use of sleep medication as assessed by the PSQI

    Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), 2 weeks after baseline (post intervention)

    Scale of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, score between 0=positive extreme and 3=negative extreme

  7. Change in daytime dysfunction as assessed by the PSQI

    Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), 2 weeks after baseline (post intervention)

    Scale of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, score between 0=positive extreme and 3=negative extreme

  8. Change in the Insomnia Severity Index total score

    Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), 2 weeks after baseline (post intervention)

    Total score of the Insomnia Severity Index, score between 0=no clinically significant insomnia and 28=severe clinical insomnia

  9. Evening protocol: Change in general well-being as assessed by a standardized sleep diary

    Time frame: In the evening (before going to sleep), during the two-week intervention phase between pre intervention (baseline) and post intervention (2 weeks after baseline)

    Self-reported well-being measured with a standardized sleep diary (six-point rating scale, higher values represent a better outcome)

  10. Evening protocol: Change in the average performance as assessed by a standardized sleep diary

    Time frame: In the evening (before going to sleep), during the two-week intervention phase between pre intervention (baseline) and post intervention (2 weeks after baseline)

    Self-reported performance measured with a standardized sleep diary (six-point rating scale, lower values represent a better outcome)

  11. Evening protocol: Change in fatigue as assessed by a standardized sleep diary

    Time frame: In the evening (before going to sleep), during the two-week intervention phase between pre intervention (baseline) and post intervention (2 weeks after baseline)

    Self-reported fatigue measured with a standardized sleep diary (four-point rating scale, lower values represent a better outcome)

  12. Evening protocol: Change in sleep during daytime as assessed by a standardized sleep diary

    Time frame: In the evening (before going to sleep), during the two-week intervention phase between pre intervention (baseline) and post intervention (2 weeks after baseline)

    Self-reported sleep during daytime measured with a standardized sleep diary (specification in minutes, lower values represent a better outcome)

  13. Morning protocol: Change in recovery ability as assessed by a standardized sleep diary

    Time frame: In the morning (after waking up), during the two-week intervention phase between pre intervention (baseline) and post intervention (2 weeks after baseline)

    Self-reported recovery ability measured with a standardized sleep diary (five-point rating scale, lower values represent a better outcome)

  14. Morning protocol: Change in general well-being as assessed by a standardized sleep diary

    Time frame: In the morning (after waking up), during the two-week intervention phase between pre intervention (baseline) and post intervention (2 weeks after baseline)

    Self-reported well-being measured with a standardized sleep diary (six-point rating scale, higher values represent a better outcome)

  15. Morning protocol: Change in sleep latency as assessed by a standardized sleep diary

    Time frame: In the morning (after waking up), during the two-week intervention phase between pre intervention (baseline) and post intervention (2 weeks after baseline)

    Self-reported sleep latency measured with a standardized sleep diary (specification in minutes, lower values represent a better outcome)

  16. Morning protocol: Change in nocturnal awakening as assessed by a standardized sleep diary

    Time frame: In the morning (after waking up), during the two-week intervention phase between pre intervention (baseline) and post intervention (2 weeks after baseline)

    Self-reported nocturnal awakening measured with a standardized sleep diary (specification in minutes, lower values represent a better outcome)

  17. Morning protocol: Change in sleep duration as assessed by a standardized sleep diary

    Time frame: In the morning (after waking up), during the two-week intervention phase between pre intervention (baseline) and post intervention (2 weeks after baseline)

    Self-reported sleep duration measured with a standardized sleep diary (specification in hours, higher values represent a better outcome)

  18. Change in quality of life as assessed by the 12-Item Short Form Survey

    Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), 2 weeks after baseline (post intervention)

    Scales of the 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12), scores between 0=more dysfunction/impairment and 100=less dysfunction/impairment

  19. Change in subjective feeling of overall warmth as assessed by the Herdecke Warmth Perception Questionnaire

    Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention), 2 weeks after baseline (post intervention)

    Self-reported feeling of overall warmth and warmth at the face, trunk anterior/posterior, hands and feet measured with the Herdecke Warmth Perception Questionnaire, scores between 0=cold and 4=hot

  20. Heart rate variability analysis (HRV): Change in RMSSD

    Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention) and two weeks after baseline (post intervention)

    Root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD) [ms]. HRV data are obtained from 24-hour ECG measurements with "Cardioscout Multi-ECG" (SR-Medizinelektronik, Stuttgart, Germany)

  21. Heart rate variability analysis (HRV): Change in SDNN

    Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention) and two weeks after baseline (post intervention)

    Standard deviation of normal to normal (NN) intervals (SDNN) [ms]. HRV data are obtained from 24-hour ECG measurements with "Cardioscout Multi-ECG" (SR-Medizinelektronik, Stuttgart, Germany)

  22. Heart rate variability analysis (HRV): Change in pNN50

    Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention) and two weeks after baseline (post intervention)

    The proportion of NN50 (number of pairs of successive NNs that differ by more than 50 ms) divided by total number of NNs (pNN50). HRV data are obtained from 24-hour ECG measurements with "Cardioscout Multi-ECG" (SR-Medizinelektronik, Stuttgart, Germany)

  23. Heart rate variability analysis (HRV): Change in VLF

    Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention) and two weeks after baseline (post intervention)

    Very low frequency (VLF, 0.0033 to 0.04 Hz) from frequency domain analysis. HRV data are obtained from 24-hour ECG measurements with "Cardioscout Multi-ECG" (SR-Medizinelektronik, Stuttgart, Germany)

  24. Heart rate variability analysis (HRV): Change in LF

    Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention) and two weeks after baseline (post intervention)

    Low frequency (LF, 0.04 to 0.15 Hz) from frequency domain analysis. HRV data are obtained from 24-hour ECG measurements with "Cardioscout Multi-ECG" (SR-Medizinelektronik, Stuttgart, Germany)

  25. Heart rate variability analysis (HRV): Change in HF

    Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention) and two weeks after baseline (post intervention)

    High frequency (HF, 0.15 to 0.40 Hz) from frequency domain analysis. HRV data are obtained from 24-hour ECG measurements with "Cardioscout Multi-ECG" (SR-Medizinelektronik, Stuttgart, Germany)

  26. Heart rate variability analysis (HRV): Change in LF/HF ratio

    Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention) and two weeks after baseline (post intervention)

    Ratio of two bands from frequency domain analysis: LF band (0.04 to 0.15 Hz) and HF band (0.15 to 0.40 Hz). HRV data are obtained from 24-hour ECG measurements with "Cardioscout Multi-ECG" (SR-Medizinelektronik, Stuttgart, Germany)

  27. Change in distal-proximal skin-temperature gradient

    Time frame: Baseline (pre intervention) and two weeks after baseline (post intervention)

    24-hour measurement of the skin temperature at the feet and abdomen with "MAXIM I-Button™ DS1922L" (Maxim integrated, San Jose, USA). The gradient is calculated by subtracting the proximal value from the distal value.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

ARCIM Institute Academic Research in Complementary and Integrative Medicine

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Efficacy of Footbaths With Ginger Powder on Subjectively Perceived Quality of Sleep: a Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2020
Study completion
2020
First posted
Dec 26, 2019
Registry last updated
Apr 14, 2020

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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