NCT06985420 The Effect of the Menstrual Cycle on Immune Cell Activity and Recovery After Resistance Exercise
| NCT ID | NCT06985420 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | University of Central Florida |
| Condition | Healthy Women |
| Study Type | OBSERVATIONAL |
| Enrollment | 40 participants |
| Start Date | 2024-08-16 |
| Primary Completion | 2025-05 |
Trial Parameters
Eligibility Fast-Check
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Brief Summary
The goal of this observational study is to learn how the menstrual cycle affects immune cell activation, recruitment, and recovery responses after resistance exercise in healthy, resistance-trained women aged 18-40. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the menstrual cycle influence neutrophil recruitment and adhesion after resistance exercise? Does the menstrual cycle affect markers of muscle damage and functional recovery? Researchers will compare three menstrual phases (early follicular, late follicular, and mid-luteal) to see if immune responses and recovery outcomes differ across these phases. Participants will: Complete resistance exercise protocols across three different menstrual cycle phases. Provide blood samples to assess immune cell activation and muscle damage markers. Track sleep, mood, and recovery with questionnaires and wear an accelerometer.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Women between the ages of 18 and 40. * Must weigh at least 110 pounds. * Healthy as determined by medical history, physical activity readiness, and menstrual cycle questionnaires. * Actively resistance training for at least 6 months (minimum of 3 resistance training sessions per week, with at least one lower body session). * Pre-menopausal and have a regular menstrual cycle (eumenorrheic), with a clear start of menses (early follicular phase). * Not currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study. * Have not used hormonal birth control or intrauterine devices in the past 3 months (or three full menstrual cycles). * Able to recall approximate start dates of their last 6 menstrual cycles. * Willing to follow study instructions, including avoiding exercise, alcohol, and caffeine before testing visits. * Free from previous or current lower body injuries that could limit performance. * Not regularly taking any medications that could interfere with th