How menstrual cycle phases affect walking, pelvic movement, and sleep
Investigation of the Effects of Menstrual Cycle Phases on Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Gait, Pelvic Kinematics, and Sleep Quality
This project tests whether different menstrual cycle phases change walking patterns, pelvic movement, and sleep in healthy women ages 18–35 who have regular periods.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 40 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 35 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Sponsor | Hacettepe University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Ankara) |
| Trial ID | NCT07152262 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This cross-sectional, prospective observational study examines whether menstrual cycle phases affect gait spatiotemporal characteristics, pelvic kinematics, and sleep quality in healthy women aged 18–35 with regular cycles. Participants are tested at three time points—early follicular (days 1–3), ovulation (days 7–9, confirmed by a salivary ovulation test), and luteal (days 20–23)—to capture phase-related physiological changes. Gait speed, cadence, stride length, stance and swing phases, and pelvic tilt/obliquity/rotation symmetry are measured using the BTS-G walk wireless sensor system, while sleep quality is recorded with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Measures from the three phases will be compared to see if normal hormonal fluctuations produce measurable differences in walking, pelvic motion, or sleep.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Healthy women aged 18–35 with regular menstrual cycles (about 28 ± 7 days) who can attend three in-person visits and have no recent surgery, chronic low back pain, dysmenorrhea, neurological, orthopedic, or rheumatologic conditions are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Women who are perimenopausal or menopausal, have irregular cycles, current low back pain, dysmenorrhea, spinal deformities, neurologic/orthopedic/rheumatologic disorders, recent surgery, or other conditions that affect gait or sleep are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help women and clinicians better time exercise, rehabilitation, or sleep interventions to menstrual phases to reduce injury risk or improve sleep.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have reported menstrual-cycle effects on balance, injury risk, and sleep, but work using wearable gait sensors across precisely timed cycle phases is limited, so this approach builds on partial evidence but is not yet well established.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Female, aged 18-35 years * Voluntarily agrees to participate and provides informed consent * Regular menstrual cycle (28 ± 7 days) * Able to comply with study assessments and procedures Exclusion Criteria: * History of surgery within the past 6 months * Current or chronic low back pain * Dysmenorrhea complaints * Neurological or orthopedic disorders affecting gait or muscle strength * Presence of spinal deformities * Rheumatologic disease * Climacteric or menopausal period * Any condition that may affect gait, pelvic kinematics, or sleep quality
Where this trial is running
Ankara
- Yuksek Ihtisas University — Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye) (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Aylin Baykal — Yuksek Ihtisas University
- Study coordinator: Gungor Beyza Ozvar Senoz
- Email: beyzaozvar@gmail.com
- Phone: 505 388 86 17
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.