Sex-difference in Response to Resistance Exercise and Training (WOMENRESIST S1)

July 2, 2026 updated by: Université Catholique de Louvain

Sex-Difference in Response to Resistance Exercise and Training

Given the importance of muscular strength for athletic performance as well as for daily activities in the general population-including clinical populations-and the lack of data in both men and women, the aim of this study is to compare neuromuscular, intramuscular, and systemic adaptations in men and women in response to both acute and chronic resistance exercise.

Specifically, the investigators will test the hypotheses that:

the neuromuscular response to resistance exercise, including corticospinal excitability and motor unit activation patterns, differs between men and women; the hormonal response and exosome release following resistance exercise are reduced in women compared to men.

Participants (n = 15 per group) will follow a supervised resistance training program for 8 weeks. Neuromuscular function of the knee extensor muscles, body composition, intramuscular adaptations, as well as blood profiles (hormonal and metabolic) and exosomes will be assessed before and after a single resistance exercise session and after the training period. This protocol will allow determination of both the acute and long-term effects of resistance exercise.

Women's participation in sports is increasing, yet research in this area remains very limited. This project aims to better understand the mechanisms by which resistance training-a non-pharmacological and low-cost strategy-may induce different adaptations in men and women, and, where appropriate, to contribute to the development of sex-specific recommendations to maximize the health benefits of resistance training.

Study Overview

Status

Enrolling by invitation

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

30

Phase

  • 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 Locations

  • Belgium
      • Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, 1348
        • Faculté des sciences de la motricité, Pl. Pierre de Coubertin 1

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Men and women aged between 18 and 40 years;
  • eumenorrheic women or under contraceptive (hormonal and non-hormonal).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Regular resistance exercise (≥2x/week);
  • Any contraindication to exercise;
  • Protein/creatine supplement intake;
  • Pregnancy;
  • Epilepsy;
  • Head implant.

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: Basic Science
  • Allocation: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Men
Male participants performing a supervised 8-week resistance training program. Neuromuscular, intramuscular, and systemic responses to both acute and chronic resistance exercise will be assessed.
Device: Resistance exercise on a leg extension machine
Supervised resistance exercise consisting exclusively of knee extension exercise on a leg extension machine. Acute exercise included 6 sets of 10 repetitions at 80% of one-repetition maximum (1RM).
Device: Resistance training on a leg extension machine
Supervised resistance training consisting exclusively of knee extension exercise on a leg extension machine. Chronic exercise included 6 sets of 10 repetitions at 80% of one-repetition maximum (1RM). The program was carried out over 8 weeks (3x/week).
Procedure: Blood samples
Blood samples were taken from the antecubital vein before and immediately after an acute resistance exercise session, and after the chronic resistance training period.
Procedure: Vastus lateralis biopsy
Biopsy were taken in the vastus lateralis before and immediately after an acute resistance exercise session, and after the chronic resistance training period.
Diagnostic test: Body composition analysis
Body composition analysis using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) before and after the chronic resistance training period.
Diagnostic test: One repetition maximum (1-RM)
One repetition maximum (1-RM) assessment before, after 4 weeks of training and at the end the chronic resistance training period.
Diagnostic test: Muscle thickness of the vastus lateralis
Muscle thickness of the vastus lateralis assessed by ultrasonography before and after the chronic resistance training period.
Experimental: Women
Female participants performing a supervised 8-week resistance training program. Neuromuscular, intramuscular, and systemic responses to both acute and chronic resistance exercise will be assessed.
Device: Resistance exercise on a leg extension machine
Supervised resistance exercise consisting exclusively of knee extension exercise on a leg extension machine. Acute exercise included 6 sets of 10 repetitions at 80% of one-repetition maximum (1RM).
Device: Resistance training on a leg extension machine
Supervised resistance training consisting exclusively of knee extension exercise on a leg extension machine. Chronic exercise included 6 sets of 10 repetitions at 80% of one-repetition maximum (1RM). The program was carried out over 8 weeks (3x/week).
Procedure: Blood samples
Blood samples were taken from the antecubital vein before and immediately after an acute resistance exercise session, and after the chronic resistance training period.
Procedure: Vastus lateralis biopsy
Biopsy were taken in the vastus lateralis before and immediately after an acute resistance exercise session, and after the chronic resistance training period.
Diagnostic test: Body composition analysis
Body composition analysis using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) before and after the chronic resistance training period.
Diagnostic test: One repetition maximum (1-RM)
One repetition maximum (1-RM) assessment before, after 4 weeks of training and at the end the chronic resistance training period.
Diagnostic test: Muscle thickness of the vastus lateralis
Muscle thickness of the vastus lateralis assessed by ultrasonography before and after the chronic resistance training period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Sex differences in protein expression of muscle mass regulation pathways assessed by western blot
Time Frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 11 months
Assessment of protein of expression muscle mass regulation pathways after acute exercise and chronic exercise using western blot (ratio of target protein to reference protein)
Throughout the entire study, during approximately 11 months
Sex differences in mRNA levels in muscle mass regulation pathways assessed by RT-qPCR
Time Frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 11 months
Assessment of mRNA levels of muscle mass regulation pathways after acute exercise and chronic exercise usin RT-qPCR (fold change).
Throughout the entire study, during approximately 11 months
Sex differences in metabolic status assessed by blood biomarkers
Time Frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 11 months
Assessment of metabolic blood parameters before and after acute exercise and chronic resistance training.
Throughout the entire study, during approximately 11 months
Sex differences in hormonal status assessed by blood biomarkers
Time Frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 11 months
Assessment of hormonal blood parameters before and after acute exercise and chronic resistance training.
Throughout the entire study, during approximately 11 months
Sex differences in extracellular vesicles regulation assessed by nanoparticle tracking analysis
Time Frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 11 months
Assessment of the concentration and size of circulating extracellular vesicles after acute exercise and chronic exercise using nanoparticle tracking analysis.
Throughout the entire study, during approximately 11 months
Sex differences in extracellular vesicles regulation assessed by proteomic analysis
Time Frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 11 months
Assessment of protein expression of circulating extracellular vesicles after acute exercise and chronic exercise using proteomic analysis
Throughout the entire study, during approximately 11 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Sex differences in body composition assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)
Time Frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 11 months
Comparison of fat mass and lean mass between men and women before and after the chronic resistance training.
Throughout the entire study, during approximately 11 months
Sex differences in muscle thickness of the vastus lateralis assessed by ultrasonography
Time Frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 11 months
Comparison of vastus lateralis muscle thickness between men and women before and after the chronic resistance training.
Throughout the entire study, during approximately 11 months
Sex differences in strength evolution assessed by one-repetition maximum (1-RM)
Time Frame: Throughout the entire study, during approximately 11 months
Comparison of maximal strength evolution between men and women before and after the chronic resistance training.
Throughout the entire study, during approximately 11 months

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Université Catholique de Louvain

Collaborators

University of Lausanne
Université Clermont-Auvergne, France

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Sylvie Copine, Université Catholique de Louvain

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 (Actual)

February 2, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

December 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 11, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 2, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 2, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • WOMENRESIST S1

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

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.

Clinical Trials on Female

Clinical Trials on Resistance exercise on a leg extension machine

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Gambia

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

3
Subscribe