Menstrual Cycle and Exercise-induced Muscle Damage

NCT07322874 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: Menstrual Cycle - EIMD
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 15
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of the different menstrual cycle phases on the recovery from exercise-induced muscle injury in eumenorrheic women. For this purpose, in a cross-over, randomized study, at least 10 healthy eumenorrheic women aged 18-35 years will participate. In a random order, the participants will perform 45 min downhill (-15% slope) running on a treadmill at 70% HRmax followed by a maximal time-trial (95% HRmax) to exhaustion: i) during the follicular phase and ii) during the luteal phase. Before the exercise protocol, as well as at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h following exercise, complete blood count, delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS), creatine kinase activity, countermovement jump, isometric, concentric and eccentric strength of knee extensors and knee flexors, will be assessed. In addition, lactic acid concentration will be assessed before and immediately following exercise, and DOMS will be assessed immediately after the end of exercise. Following a washout period of ≥28 days (depending on the length of the menstrual cycle), participants will repeat the exact same procedure for the remaining phase of the menstrual cycle.

Conditions

Menstrual Cycle Phase

Keywords

menstrual cycle; follicular phase; luteal phase; exercise-induced muscle damage; muscle performance; muscle soreness

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Changes in Creatine kinase (CK) activity

  CK activity will be measured in plasma using a Clinical Chemistry Analyzer with commercially available kits.

  At baseline (pre), post-, 24 hours post-, 48 hours post-, 72 hours post-trial

• Changes in delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS)

  DOMS of knee extensors, knee flexors, gluteal and gastrocnemius muscles of both lower extremities will be measured during palpation of the muscle belly and the distal region after performing three repetitions of a full squat.

  At baseline (pre), post-, 24 hours post-, 48 hours post-, 72 hours post-tria

• Changes in blood lactate concentration

  Lactate concentration will be measured in capillary blood with a hand-portable analyzer

  At baseline (pre), 4 minutes post-exercise

• Changes in countermovement jump (CMJ) height

  CMJ height will be measured with an optical system. Participants will perform 3 maximal CMJ jumps and the best effort will be recorded

  At baseline (pre), 24 hours post-, 48 hours post-, 72 hours post-exercise

• Changes in isokinetic strength of knee extensors (KE) and knee flexors (KF)

  Isometric, concentric and eccentric peak torque of the KE and KF of both limbs will be assessed on an isokinetic dynamometer

  At baseline (pre), 24 hours post-, 48 hours post-, 72 hours post-exercise

• Changes in complete blood count (CBC)

  CBC (white blood cells, erythrocytes, platelets) will be measured in an hematological analyzer with commercially available reagents

  At baseline (pre), 24 hours post-, 48 hours post-, 72 hours post-exercise

Secondary Outcomes (7)

• Differences in Estradiol concentration between trials

  At late-follicular and mid-luteal phase (according to each participant's menstrual cycle length), before exercise

• Differences in Progesterone concentration between trials

  At late-follicular and mid-luteal phase (according to each participant's menstrual cycle length), before exercise

• Body weight

  At late-follicular and mid-luteal phase (according to each participant's menstrual cycle length), before exercise

• Body height

  At late-follicular and mid-luteal phase (according to each participant's menstrual cycle length), before exercise

• Body mass index (BMI)

  At late-follicular and mid-luteal phase (according to each participant's menstrual cycle length), before exercise

Study Arms (2)

Follicular phase

EXPERIMENTAL

The participants will perform downhill running (-15% slope) on a treadmill at 70% of HRmax followed by running on a horizontal level (0% slope) at 95% HRmax until exhaustion, during the follicular phase

Other: Exercise during follicular phase

Luteal phase

EXPERIMENTAL

The participants will perform downhill running (-15% slope) on a treadmill at 70% of HRmax followed by running on a horizontal level (0% slope) at 95% HRmax until exhaustion, during the luteal phase

Other: Exercise during luteal phase

Interventions

Exercise during follicular phase OTHER

The participants will perform downhill running (-15% slope) on a treadmill at 70% of HRmax followed by running on a horizontal level (0% slope) at 95% HRmax until exhaustion, during the follicular phase

Follicular phase

Exercise during luteal phase OTHER

The participants will perform downhill running (-15% slope) on a treadmill at 70% of HRmax followed by running on a horizontal level (0% slope) at 95% HRmax until exhaustion, during the luteal phase

Luteal phase

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Physically active subjects (VO2max ≥35ml/kg/min)
• Absence of musculoskeletal injury (≥6 months)
• Abstinence from the use of ergogenic supplements (≥1 month)
• Abstinence from anti-inflammatory drugs (≥1 month)
• Abstinence from participating in exercise with eccentric content for at least 7 days before exercise
• Abstinence from alcohol and energy drinks before exercise

You may not qualify if:

• Recent history of musculoskeletal injury (\<6 months)
• Use of ergogenic performance supplements (\<1 month)
• Taking anti-inflammatory drugs (\<1 month)
• Participation in exercise with eccentric content in the previous 7 days before exercise
• Consumption of alcohol and energy drinks before exercise

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Chariklia K. Deli: lead

Study Sites (1)

Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly

Trikala, Thessaly, 42100, Greece

Location

Related Publications (6)

• Roepstorff C, Steffensen CH, Madsen M, Stallknecht B, Kanstrup IL, Richter EA, Kiens B. Gender differences in substrate utilization during submaximal exercise in endurance-trained subjects. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Feb;282(2):E435-47. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00266.2001.

  PMID: 11788377 BACKGROUND

• Romero-Parra N, Cupeiro R, Alfaro-Magallanes VM, Rael B, Rubio-Arias JA, Peinado AB, Benito PJ; IronFEMME Study Group. Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage During the Menstrual Cycle: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Strength Cond Res. 2021 Feb 1;35(2):549-561. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003878.

  PMID: 33201156 BACKGROUND

• Ruby BC, Coggan AR, Zderic TW. Gender differences in glucose kinetics and substrate oxidation during exercise near the lactate threshold. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2002 Mar;92(3):1125-32. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00296.2001.

  PMID: 11842049 BACKGROUND

• Oosthuyse T, Strauss JA, Hackney AC. Understanding the female athlete: molecular mechanisms underpinning menstrual phase differences in exercise metabolism. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2023 Mar;123(3):423-450. doi: 10.1007/s00421-022-05090-3. Epub 2022 Nov 19.

  PMID: 36402915 BACKGROUND

• D'Eon TM, Sharoff C, Chipkin SR, Grow D, Ruby BC, Braun B. Regulation of exercise carbohydrate metabolism by estrogen and progesterone in women. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2002 Nov;283(5):E1046-55. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00271.2002.

  PMID: 12376334 BACKGROUND

• Ose BM, Eisenhauer J, Roepe I, Herda AA, Vopat BG, Vopat LM. Where Are All the Female Participants in Sports and Exercise Medicine Research? A Decade Later. Am J Sports Med. 2025 Jul;53(8):2022-2028. doi: 10.1177/03635465241278350. Epub 2025 Jan 9.

  PMID: 39780766 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Myalgia

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Muscular Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Neuromuscular Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Musculoskeletal Pain; Pain; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Chariklia K Deli, Associate Professor, MSc, PhD

  University of Thessaly

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SCREENING
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 7, 2025
• First Posted: January 7, 2026
• Study Start: March 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: December 30, 2025
• Study Completion: December 30, 2025
• Last Updated: February 3, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

GR (1)