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NCT Number: NCT07174180

The Impact of Wearing the Hijab on Whole-body Heat Loss During Exercise-heat Stress

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).

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Key information

Conditions

Heat Stress Behavior Body Temperature Changes Heat Stress Disorders Motor Activity Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Temperature Change, Body Wounds and Injuries

Age range

18 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Ottawa

Ottawa, Ontario, K1N6N5, Canada

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Glen P Kenny, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

6135625800 ext. 4282

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

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

Treatment and study plan

Exercise-heat stress with no hijab

Other

Participants perform exercise in the heat with no hijab

Exercise-heat stress with a hijab

Other

Participants perform exercise in the heat with a hijab

Primary outcomes

  1. Evaporative heat loss at end exercise

    Time frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout

    Evaporative heat loss as assessed using a direct air calorimeter

  2. Dry heat loss at end exercise

    Time frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout

    Dry heat loss as assessed using a direct air calorimeter

  3. Total heat loss at end exercise

    Time frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout

    Total heat loss as assessed using a direct air calorimeter

  4. Body heat storage

    Time frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout

    Heat stored in the body for each of the exercise bouts

  5. Change in body heat content

    Time frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout

    Body heat content measured at the end of intermittent exercise

  6. Core temperature

    Time frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout

    Rectal temperature during final 5 minutes of each of the exercise bouts

  7. Mean skin temperature

    Time frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout

    Mean skin temperature during final 5 minutes of each of the exercise bouts

  8. Relative change in core temperature at end exercise

    Time frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout

    Relative increase in core temperature for each 30-minute exercise bout

  9. Relative change in mean skin temperature at end exercise

    Time frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout

    Relative change in mean skin temperature for each 30-minute exercise bout

  10. Heart rate

    Time frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout

    Heart rate during final 5 minutes of each of the exercise bouts

  11. Rating of perceived exertion

    Time frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout

    Perceived exertion assessed via a self-report questionnaire upon verbal prompting (scale is as follows: 6: indicating the participant is not exerting themselves at all with 20 indicating participant is exerting themselves maximally)

  12. Thermal sensation A

    Time frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout

    Thermal sensation assessed via a self-report questionnaire upon verbal prompting (scale is as follows: 7-point scale; -3 indicating the participant is cold to +3 indicating the participant is hot)

  13. Thermal sensation B

    Time frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout

    Thermal sensation assessed via a self-report questionnaire upon verbal prompting (scale is as follows: 7-point scale; 0 indicating the participant is neutral to 7 indicating the participant is extremely hot)

  14. Thirst sensation

    Time frame: End of the 60-min intermittent exercise bout

    Thirst sensation assessed via a self-report questionnaire upon verbal prompting (scale is as follows: 9-point scale; 1 indicating the participant is not thirsty at all to 9 indicating the participant is very, very thirsty)

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Glen P Kenny, PhD

CONTACT

[email protected]

6135625800 ext. 4282

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Ottawa

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Wearing the Hijab on Dry and Evaporative Heat Exchange During Moderate-intensity Exercise Performed in Hot-dry Environments

Important dates

Study start
2025
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2026
First posted
Sep 15, 2025
Registry last updated
Jun 16, 2026

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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