Physiological Responses to Basketball-Specific Interval Exercise in Female Basketball Players (INTER-BASKET)

August 11, 2026 updated by: Poznan University of Physical Education

The Effect of Basketball-Specific Interval Exercise on Metabolic and Inflammatory Responses, Energy Substrate Utilization, and Perceived Fatigue in Female Basketball Players

This study aims to evaluate the effects of interval exercise on metabolic and inflammatory responses, energy substrate utilization, and fatigue in trained female basketball players. High-intensity intermittent exercise is a key component of basketball performance and induces substantial metabolic and physiological stress. However, the acute relationships between exercise-induced metabolic changes, inflammatory responses, substrate utilization, and fatigue in female basketball players remain insufficiently understood.

In this prospective interventional study, eligible female basketball players will complete a standardized interval exercise protocol designed to replicate the physiological demands of competitive basketball. Physiological, biochemical, and perceptual measurements will be collected before exercise, immediately after exercise, and during recovery. Primary outcomes include changes in metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers, energy substrate utilization, and fatigue-related responses. Secondary outcomes include selected physiological and performance-related variables associated with recovery from high-intensity interval exercise.

The findings of this study will improve the understanding of the physiological responses to interval exercise in female basketball players and may contribute to the development of evidence-based training and recovery strategies aimed at optimizing performance and athlete health.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

High-intensity intermittent exercise is a fundamental component of basketball and is characterized by repeated bouts of sprinting, jumping, rapid changes of direction, and brief recovery periods. This type of exercise places substantial demands on both aerobic and anaerobic energy systems and induces complex metabolic and inflammatory responses. Although numerous studies have investigated the physiological effects of high-intensity exercise, the interactions among exercise-induced inflammation, metabolic regulation, energy substrate utilization, and fatigue in female basketball players remain insufficiently understood.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the acute effects of basketball-specific interval exercise on metabolic and inflammatory responses, energy substrate utilization, and psychophysiological fatigue in trained female basketball players. The exercise stimulus will consist of the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1), a validated field test that closely simulates the intermittent high-intensity demands of competitive basketball by requiring shuttle runs interspersed with short active recovery periods.

Participants will attend a single experimental session consisting of baseline assessments, completion of a standardized interval exercise protocol, and follow-up assessments during the early recovery period. Biological samples, physiological measurements, and fatigue assessments will be obtained at predefined time points before exercise, immediately after exercise, and one hour after exercise. Laboratory analyses will evaluate selected inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers together with indicators of energy substrate utilization. In addition, subjective fatigue and neuromotor performance will be assessed to characterize both peripheral and central aspects of exercise-induced fatigue.

To minimize potential confounding factors, participants will follow standardized pre-test instructions regarding physical activity, alcohol consumption, caffeine intake, and nutritional preparation before testing. Nutritional intake and anthropometric characteristics will also be documented to support the interpretation of physiological responses.

By integrating biochemical, metabolic, physiological, and psychophysiological measurements within a basketball-specific exercise model, this study aims to improve understanding of the mechanisms underlying acute responses to high-intensity intermittent exercise in female athletes. The findings may contribute to evidence-based strategies for monitoring training load, optimizing recovery, and improving performance in women's basketball and other intermittent team sports.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
25

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Poland
      • Gorzów Wielkopolski, Poland, 66-400
        • Poznan University of Physical Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences in Gorzow Wielkopolski, Poland; Department of Biological Sciences.
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Female, aged 16-22 years.
  • Regular participation in organized basketball training.
  • Current medical clearance for sports participation.
  • No contraindications to high-intensity physical exercise.
  • Willingness and ability to provide written informed consent (and parental/legal guardian consent where required for minors).
  • Willingness to comply with all study procedures.
  • Menstrual cycle phase will be recorded for all participants and considered as a potential covariate in the statistical analyses.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Current musculoskeletal injury or any condition preventing maximal exercise.
  • Metabolic, cardiovascular, inflammatory, or other chronic diseases affecting exercise capacity or study outcomes.
  • Current use of anti-inflammatory medications.
  • Use of supplements or substances that may influence the measured metabolic or inflammatory parameters.
  • Refusal to undergo blood sampling.
  • Failure to comply with pre-test instructions (e.g., dietary or exercise restrictions).

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Other
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: High-Intensity Interval Exercise (Yo-Yo IR1)
Participants assigned to this arm will complete a single session of the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1), a standardized high-intensity intermittent exercise protocol designed to simulate the physiological demands of competitive basketball. Assessments will be conducted before exercise, immediately after exercise, and one hour after exercise to evaluate acute metabolic, inflammatory, physiological, and fatigue-related responses.
Other: Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1)
The intervention consists of the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1), a standardized maximal intermittent field exercise test designed to reproduce the physiological demands of intermittent team sports such as basketball. Participants perform repeated 20-meter shuttle runs at progressively increasing speeds, guided by audio signals, with 10-second active recovery periods between running bouts. The test continues until volitional exhaustion or until the participant is unable to maintain the required running pace according to the test protocol. The Yo-Yo IR1 is used to induce acute physiological stress for the assessment of metabolic, inflammatory, and fatigue-related responses.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Serum Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Concentration
Time Frame: Baseline (pre-exercise), immediately after exercise, and 1 hour after exercise.
Serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration will be measured to assess the acute inflammatory response induced by the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (Yo-Yo IR1). The outcome will be expressed as the change in IL-6 concentration across the predefined assessment time points.
Baseline (pre-exercise), immediately after exercise, and 1 hour after exercise.
Change in Blood Lactate Concentration
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after exercise.
Blood lactate concentration measured from capillary blood as an indicator of anaerobic metabolism following high-intensity intermittent exercise.
Baseline and immediately after exercise.
Change in reaction time
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately post-exercise.
Visual reaction time will be assessed as an indicator of neuromotor performance and central fatigue.
Baseline and immediately post-exercise.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in serum-free fatty acid concentration
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately post-exercise, and 1 hour post-exercise
Serum free fatty acid concentration will be measured from venous blood samples to evaluate exercise-induced lipid mobilization.
Baseline, immediately post-exercise, and 1 hour post-exercise
Change in blood glucose concentration
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately post-exercise, and 1 hour post-exercise
Blood glucose concentration will be measured using a portable glucometer with disposable test strips.
Baseline, immediately post-exercise, and 1 hour post-exercise
Change in serum insulin concentration
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately post-exercise, and 1 hour post-exercise
Serum insulin concentration will be measured to assess hormonal regulation of glucose metabolism.
Baseline, immediately post-exercise, and 1 hour post-exercise
Change in Rating of Perceived Exertion (Borg Scale)
Time Frame: Immediately after exercise completion (within 5 minutes).
Subjective perception of exercise intensity will be assessed using the Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion Scale. Total scores range from 6 to 20, with higher scores indicating greater perceived exertion during exercise.
Immediately after exercise completion (within 5 minutes).
Change in mood state assessed by Profile of Mood States (POMS)
Time Frame: Before exercise.
Mood state will be assessed using the validated Profile of Mood States questionnaire. Total scores range from 0 to 260, with higher scores indicating greater mood disturbance and psychological distress.
Before exercise.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Poznan University of Physical Education

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Anna Kasperska, PhD, Poznan University of Physical Education, Faculty of Sport Sciences in Gorzow Wielkopolski, Poland;

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 20, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
November 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 3, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 3, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 7, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 12, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 11, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Basketball players
  • DGR.V.042.2.4.2026 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Lubusz Voivodeship Marshal's Office and university funds.)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data collected during this study will not be made publicly available.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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