Effects of Menstrual Cycle Phases on Gait, Pelvis, and Sleep

Investigation of the Effects of Menstrual Cycle Phases on Spatiotemporal Characteristics of Gait, Pelvic Kinematics, and Sleep Quality

This study aims to investigate the effects of different phases of the menstrual cycle on gait spatiotemporal characteristics, pelvic kinematics, and sleep quality in healthy women aged 18-35 years with regular menstrual cycles. Participants will be assessed in three phases of the cycle: early follicular (days 1-3), ovulation (days 7-9, confirmed by ovulation test), and luteal (days 20-23). Gait parameters and pelvic kinematics will be evaluated using the BTS-G walk sensor system, while sleep quality will be assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The study seeks to determine whether physiological and hormonal changes during menstrual phases lead to measurable differences in gait, pelvic motion, and sleep quality.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sleep; Gait; Menstrual Cycle

Detailed Description

This cross-sectional, prospective observational study investigates the influence of menstrual cycle phases on gait spatiotemporal characteristics, pelvic kinematics, and sleep quality in healthy women aged 18-35 years with regular menstrual cycles (28 ± 7 days). Hormonal changes during the cycle may affect musculoskeletal performance, balance, and sleep quality, yet the extent of these effects on gait and pelvic motion has not been fully clarified.

Participants will be evaluated in three phases of their menstrual cycle:

Early follicular phase (days 1-3), determined by the onset of menstrual bleeding, Ovulation phase (days 7-9), confirmed by a salivary ovulation test, Luteal phase (days 20-23), approximately 6-8 days after ovulation. At each phase, gait spatiotemporal parameters (speed, cadence, stride length, stance and swing phases, gait cycle duration) and pelvic kinematics (tilt, obliquity, rotation symmetry) will be assessed using the BTS-G walk wireless sensor system. Sleep quality will be measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 40

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Ankara, Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Yüksek İhtisas University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy women aged 18-35 years with regular menstrual cycles (28 ± 7 days). Participants will be assessed during three phases of their menstrual cycle (early follicular, ovulation, and luteal) to examine changes in gait parameters, pelvic kinematics, and sleep quality.

Description

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

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Healthy Women with Regular Menstrual Cycles; Women aged 18-35 years with regular menstrual cycles (28 ± 7 days), evaluated prospectively during early follicular, ovulation, and luteal phases.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Gait Speed Across Menstrual Phases	Within-subject change in comfortable gait speed (meters/second (m/s)) measured by BTS-G walk sensor in three phases: early follicular (days 1-3), ovulation (days 7-9; salivary test-confirmed), luteal (days 20-23).	Within one menstrual cycle (~3-4 weeks).
Change in Cadence Across Menstrual Phases	Within-subject change in step cadence( steps/min) recorded by BTS-G walk across the same three phases.	Within one menstrual cycle (~3-4 weeks).
Change in Stride Length Across Menstrual Phases	Within-subject change in stride length (centimeters/cm) captured by BTS-G walk across the three phases.	Within one menstrual cycle (~3-4 weeks).
Change in Stance and Swing Phase Percentages	Within-subject change in stance (%) and swing (%) durations during gait across phases using BTS-G walk.	Within one menstrual cycle (~3-4 weeks).
Change in Pelvic Kinematics	Within-subject change in pelvic tilt (degree), obliquity (degree), and rotation symmetry (degree) indices obtained from BTS-G walk across phases.	Within one menstrual cycle (~3-4 weeks).
Change in Sleep Quality	Within-subject change in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) global score across phases. The PSQI is scored between 0 and 21. Higher scores indicate poorer sleep quality.	Within one menstrual cycle (~3-4 weeks).

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hacettepe University
• Collaborators: Yuksek Ihtisas University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Gungor Beyza Ozvar Senoz, Yüksek İhtisas University; Study Director: Busra Kalkan Balak, Yüksek İhtisas University; Principal Investigator: Aylin Baykal, Yüksek İhtisas University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 20, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): February 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 26, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 26, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): September 3, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 22, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 20, 2026
• Last Verified: May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: Menstrual Cycle

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No