Exercise Physiology, Female Athletes, High-Intensity Interval Training, Menstrual Cycle
Conditions
Keywords
Female Futsal Players, Menstrual Cycle, High-Intensity Interval Training, Exercise Physiology, Women's Health, Physical Performance
Brief summary
This study aims to investigate the biochemical, hormonal, and physiological adaptations to a 10-week periodized high-intensity interval training (HIIT) programme in elite female futsal players. The study will examine changes in aerobic fitness, blood lactate kinetics, muscle damage biomarkers, inflammatory markers, and reproductive hormones throughout the intervention. In addition, the influence of menstrual cycle phases on these physiological responses will be evaluated to improve understanding of sex-specific training adaptations and recovery. The findings are expected to contribute to evidence-based, individualized training and recovery strategies for female futsal athletes.
Detailed description
Female futsal is a high-intensity intermittent team sport requiring substantial aerobic and anaerobic fitness. Despite increasing participation of women in competitive sports, limited evidence exists regarding the biochemical and hormonal adaptations to structured interval training, particularly across different menstrual cycle phases. This prospective longitudinal study will recruit 32 elite female futsal players who will participate in a supervised 10-week periodized HIIT programme consisting of lactate threshold training, anaerobic intensification, and sport-specific interval training. Physiological assessments will include VO₂max, lactate threshold, blood lactate kinetics, creatine kinase, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, cortisol, and reproductive hormones. Menstrual cycle phases will be monitored using validated menstrual tracking methods and hormonal confirmation. Outcomes will be assessed repeatedly throughout the intervention to determine temporal adaptations and the influence of menstrual cycle phase on training responses and recovery. The results are expected to support individualized, evidence-based training prescription for female athletes.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALRepeated Futsal Performance Testing Across Menstrual Cycle Phases Intervention Description Participants will undergo standardized futsal-specific performance assessments during different phases of the
Female futsal players will undergo standardized physical performance testing during different phases of the menstrual cycle. Assessments include agility, sprint speed, repeated sprint ability, explosive power, balance, and aerobic fitness. The study involves repeated performance assessments only, and no drug, device, surgical procedure, or therapeutic intervention will be administered.
Sponsors
Soran University
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Different phases of mensuration was studies
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to 30 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Female futsal players aged 18-30 years. * Regular menstrual cycles. * Participants willing to complete all scheduled testing sessions across the study period. * Participants able to safely participate in the prescribed physical-performance testing and training programme.
Exclusion criteria
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding. * Irregular menstrual cycles or diagnosed menstrual disorders. * Use of hormonal contraceptives or hormone therapy within the past 6 months. * Current musculoskeletal injury or any medical condition affecting physical performance. * Use of medications known to influence menstrual function, hormonal responses, or physical performance. * Use of performance-enhancing drugs or medications known to influence hormonal or biochemical responses. * History of endocrine, cardiovascular, or metabolic disorders. * Failure to complete all scheduled testing sessions.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mean Change from Baseline in Maximum Oxygen Uptake (VO₂max) | Baseline and Week 10 | Maximum oxygen uptake (VO₂max) measured during a graded incremental treadmill exercise test with respiratory gas analysis. Unit of Measure: mL·kg-¹·min-¹. |
| Mean Change from Baseline in Velocity at VO₂max (vVO₂max) | Baseline and Week 10 | Velocity at VO₂max (vVO₂max) measured during a graded incremental treadmill exercise test. Unit of Measure: km/h. |
| Mean Change from Baseline in Lactate Threshold Velocity | Baseline and Week 10 | Lactate threshold velocity determined during incremental exercise testing. Lactate threshold velocity is defined as the running velocity corresponding to the lactate threshold. Unit of measure: km/h. Higher values indicate improved aerobic endurance. |
| Mean Change from Baseline in Resting Blood Lactate Concentration | Baseline and Week 10 | Resting blood lactate concentration measured from venous blood samples collected under standardized resting conditions before exercise. Unit of Measure: mmol/L. Lower concentrations indicate improved metabolic efficiency. |
| Mean Change from Baseline in Lactate Clearance Rate | Baseline and Week 10 | Lactate clearance rate calculated as the rate of decline in blood lactate concentration from serial post-exercise measurements obtained during standardized recovery. The calculated clearance rate is reported as one value in mmol/L/min. Higher clearance rates indicate improved metabolic recovery. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Serum Creatine Kinase (CK) Concentration at Predefined Recovery Time Points | Baseline; immediately post-exercise; 24 hours; 48 hours; and 72 hours | Serum creatine kinase concentration measured at baseline and predefined post-exercise recovery time points. Repeated CK concentrations are evaluated across the predefined sampling time points. Unit of Measure: U/L. |
| Interleukin-6 (IL-6) | Baseline; immediately post-exercise; and recovery period | Serum interleukin-6 concentration measured as an indicator of exercise-induced inflammatory response. Unit of Measure: pg/mL. Lower resting concentrations and appropriate acute exercise responses indicate improved inflammatory regulation. |
| Serum Cortisol | Baseline; menstrual phase-specific assessments; and Week 10 | Serum cortisol concentration measured to evaluate physiological stress responses associated with high-intensity interval training. Unit of Measure: µg/dL. |
| Serum Estradiol | Phase-specific assessments during the intervention | Serum estradiol concentration measured to characterize hormonal status during different phases of the menstrual cycle. Unit of Measure: pg/mL. |
| Serum Progesterone | Phase-specific assessments during the intervention | Serum progesterone concentration measured to confirm menstrual cycle phase and evaluate hormonal responses during the intervention. Unit of Measure: ng/mL. |
Countries
Iraq
Outcome results
None listed