Effects of a 10-Week High-Intensity Interval Training Programme on Biochemical and Hormonal Responses in Elite Female Futsal Players

NCT07773519 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: SORANU-HIIT-2026-001Ethics Approval Number
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 32
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

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.

Conditions

Exercise Physiology; High-Intensity Interval Training; Female Athletes; Menstrual Cycle

Keywords

Female Futsal Players; Menstrual Cycle; High-Intensity Interval Training; Exercise Physiology; Women's Health; Physical Performance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Mean Change from Baseline in Maximum Oxygen Uptake (VO₂max)

  Maximum oxygen uptake (VO₂max) measured during a graded incremental treadmill exercise test with respiratory gas analysis. Unit of Measure: mL·kg-¹·min-¹.

  Baseline and Week 10

• Mean Change from Baseline in Velocity at VO₂max (vVO₂max)

  Velocity at VO₂max (vVO₂max) measured during a graded incremental treadmill exercise test. Unit of Measure: km/h.

  Baseline and Week 10

• Mean Change from Baseline in Lactate Threshold Velocity

  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.

  Baseline and Week 10

• Mean Change from Baseline in Resting Blood Lactate Concentration

  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.

  Baseline and Week 10

• Mean Change from Baseline in Lactate Clearance Rate

  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.

  Baseline and Week 10

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Serum Creatine Kinase (CK) Concentration at Predefined Recovery Time Points

  Baseline; immediately post-exercise; 24 hours; 48 hours; and 72 hours

• Interleukin-6 (IL-6)

  Baseline; immediately post-exercise; and recovery period

• Serum Cortisol

  Baseline; menstrual phase-specific assessments; and Week 10

• Serum Estradiol

  Phase-specific assessments during the intervention

• Serum Progesterone

  Phase-specific assessments during the intervention

Other Outcomes (2)

• Creatine Kinase (CK) Recovery Half-Life

  Immediately post-exercise through 72 hours

• Area Under the Concentration-Time Curve of Serum Creatine Kinase (CK)

  Immediately post-exercise through 72 hours

Study Arms (1)

Female Futsal Players

EXPERIMENTAL

Female futsal players will undergo repeated standardized performance testing during different phases of the menstrual cycle. Assessments include agility, sprint speed, repeated sprint ability, explosive power, balance, and aerobic fitness. All participants receive the same testing protocol, and no therapeutic intervention is administered.

Behavioral: Repeated Futsal Performance Testing Across Menstrual Cycle Phases Intervention Description Participants will undergo standardized futsal-specific performance assessments during different phases of the

Interventions

Repeated Futsal Performance Testing Across Menstrual Cycle Phases Intervention Description Participants will undergo standardized futsal-specific performance assessments during different phases of the BEHAVIORAL

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.

Also known as: Futsal Performance Testing

Female Futsal Players

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

• 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.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Soran University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Soran Univeristy

Soran, Erbil Governorate, 44008, Iraq

Location

Related Publications (6)

• Janse DE Jonge X, Thompson B, Han A. Methodological Recommendations for Menstrual Cycle Research in Sports and Exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2019 Dec;51(12):2610-2617. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002073.

  PMID: 31246715 BACKGROUND

• Janse de Jonge XA. Effects of the menstrual cycle on exercise performance. Sports Med. 2003;33(11):833-51. doi: 10.2165/00007256-200333110-00004.

  PMID: 12959622 BACKGROUND

• Constantini NW, Dubnov G, Lebrun CM. The menstrual cycle and sport performance. Clin Sports Med. 2005 Apr;24(2):e51-82, xiii-xiv. doi: 10.1016/j.csm.2005.01.003.

  PMID: 15892917 BACKGROUND

• Laursen PB, Jenkins DG. The scientific basis for high-intensity interval training: optimising training programmes and maximising performance in highly trained endurance athletes. Sports Med. 2002;32(1):53-73. doi: 10.2165/00007256-200232010-00003.

  PMID: 11772161 BACKGROUND

• Buchheit M, Laursen PB. High-intensity interval training, solutions to the programming puzzle: Part I: cardiopulmonary emphasis. Sports Med. 2013 May;43(5):313-38. doi: 10.1007/s40279-013-0029-x.

  PMID: 23539308 BACKGROUND

• Souglis A, Bourdas DI, Gioldasis A, Ispirlidis I, Philippou A, Zacharakis E, Apostolidis A, Efthymiou G, Travlos AK. Time Course of Performance Indexes, Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Muscle Damage Markers after a Female Futsal Match. Sports (Basel). 2023 Jun 29;11(7):127. doi: 10.3390/sports11070127.

  PMID: 37505614 BACKGROUND

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: researcher at soran university

Model Details: Different phases of mensuration was studies

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 31, 2026
• First Posted: August 19, 2026
• Study Start: February 2, 2026
• Primary Completion: July 1, 2026
• Study Completion: July 1, 2026
• Last Updated: August 20, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-08

Locations

IR (1)