ArticleEnvironmental research2020
The effect of green walking on heart rate variability: A pilot crossover study.
Article in Environmental research, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 24 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
24 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 59 citations in OpenAlex.
- Is altitude a determinant of the health benefits of nature exposure? A systematic review and meta-analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2022Pooled it
- Green Exercise: Can Nature Video Benefit Isometric Exercise?International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Trial
- The Impact of Green Exercise on Cardiovascular and Musculoskeletal Health in Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Scoping Review.European journal of investigation in health, psychology and education · 2026Review
- Evaluating Microclimate Modification and Acute Cardiovascular Stress Responses to a Dense Urban Microforest: The Green Oasis (GRO) Protocol.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026Article
- An acute intervention experimental study on the effects of green and blue environment exposure combined with tai chi exercise on the emotional health of elderly males.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- The impact mechanism of green exercise on college students' suicidal ideation: a mediation analysis based on entrance anxiety.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Mind and body recovery: how rural tourism promotes occupational health in the public health context.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Biophilic Design and Restorative Effects: A Neuropsychological Study of Healthy Indoor Workspaces in Urban Contexts.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- Engaging in Physical Activity in Green Spaces at Night Is Associated with Mental Well-Being and Happiness.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Concussion and the Autonomic, Immune, and Endocrine Systems: An Introduction to the Field and a Treatment Framework for Persisting Symptoms.Journal of personalized medicine · 2025Review
- Feasibility Considerations of 24-Hour Heart Rate Variability as a Wellness-Focused Biomarker.Journal of chiropractic medicine · 2025Article
- Green Environments and Healthy Aging: Analyzing the Role of Green Infrastructure in the Functional Well-Being of Seniors-A Pilot Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2024Article
- Is Greener Better? Quantifying the Impact of a Nature Walk on Stress Reduction Using HRV and Saliva Cortisol Biomarkers.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2024Article
- Outdoor physical activity is not associated with better mental health in a sample of predominantly Black people, but spending time in parks is.Urban forestry & urban greening · 2024Article
- Impact of visual and textural characteristics of street walls on stress recovery.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- The effect of enriched versus depleted housing on eucalyptus smoke-induced cardiovascular dysfunction in mice.Inhalation toxicology · 2024Article
- Interactions with Nature, Good for the Mind and Body: A Narrative Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2024Review
- Using Heart Rate Variability Methods for Health-Related Outcomes in Outdoor Contexts: A Scoping Review of Empirical Studies.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2023Article
- Detecting informal green, blue, and street physical activity spaces in the city using geotagged sports-related Twitter tweets.Frontiers in sociology · 2023Article
- Seasonal Differences in Physiological Responses to Walking in Urban Parks.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
We investigated the effects of regular walking in green and suburban environments on heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure (BP) in middle-aged adults. Twenty-three adults participated in a non-randomized crossover experiment comprised of once-weekly 50-min moderate-intensity walking sessions. Separated by a two-week washout period, participants walked for three weeks in each of two treatment conditions (green and suburban) in a local arboretum and suburban sidewalks of Chaska, MN. Eleven participants completed green walking first and 12 suburban walking first. Walks were split into 15-min intra-walk phases, with phases representing each walk's beginning, middle, and final 15-min. Repeated measures linear mixed models evaluated (1) HRV phase differences between treatments and HRV change within treatments, and (2) pre- and post-walk BP differences between treatments and pre-to post-walk BP changes. Intra-walk phase analyses revealed higher HRV during green walking vs. suburban walking during phase 2 (p < 0.0001) and phase 3 (p = 0.02). Less HRV reduction was seen between intra-walk phases 1 and 2 during green vs. suburban walking (p = 0.02). Pre-to post-walk changes revealed decreased mean systolic BP for both green (p = 0.0002) and suburban (p = 0.003) walking conditions, but not for diastolic BP. Post-walk BP results were similar after both green walking and suburban walking. In summary, walking sessions in a green environment elicited greater beneficial HRV responses compared to a suburban environment. Additionally, walking in either environment, green or suburban, promoted reductions in systolic BP.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.