Home-Based Schedule for Jet Lag

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Florida State University

Disqualifiers: Musculoskeletal injury, Cardiometabolic disease, Sleep condition

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether maintaining a home time zone improves sleep and performance after traveling across time zones. It focuses on elite female athletes, specifically those on NCAA Division 1 teams who have used a WHOOP fitness device for at least three months. Participants will either keep their home-based schedule or adapt to the new time zone while traveling. This study may suit athletes who frequently travel for competitions and seek better jet lag management. As an unphased trial, it offers athletes the chance to explore innovative strategies for managing jet lag and enhancing performance.

Do I need to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this protocol is safe for elite female athletes?

Research has shown that maintaining your usual home routine while traveling can help reduce jet lag symptoms such as trouble sleeping and thinking clearly. Although changing time zones can cause tiredness and confusion, adhering to a regular schedule might ease these issues. This method is safe, as it doesn't involve drugs or medical treatments. It simply involves managing sleep and activity times, which is generally harmless for participants. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores different strategies for managing jet lag, which can be a major inconvenience for frequent travelers. Unlike standard practices like light exposure therapy or melatonin supplements, this trial investigates whether maintaining a home-based schedule while traveling across time zones can effectively combat jet lag. This approach could offer a simple, non-invasive method to help travelers adjust more smoothly, potentially making it easier to maintain routines and improve overall well-being during trips. The trial aims to determine if sticking to your usual schedule, even when far from home, could be the key to beating jet lag's effects.

What evidence suggests that maintaining a home-based schedule is effective for managing jet lag?

Research shows that maintaining a usual home schedule might help reduce jet lag. Jet lag can cause issues such as poor sleep, daytime fatigue, and difficulty thinking clearly. In this trial, participants will join different groups, including one where they keep their home schedule while traveling across three time zones. Studies suggest that sticking to a normal routine might prevent confusion in the body's internal clock. This approach could improve sleep and alertness, especially when crossing time zones. Although more research is needed, early findings suggest this method may effectively ease jet lag symptoms. ^{1 3 4 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for female athletes on NCAA Division 1 teams who have been using a WHOOP device for at least three months. It's not suitable for those with musculoskeletal injuries, cardiometabolic diseases that limit team activity participation, or pre-diagnosed sleep conditions affecting sleep quality.

Inclusion Criteria

Athlete on the roster of an NCAA Division 1 Team

Has worn WHOOP device for at least 3 months

Exclusion Criteria

I have an injury or heart-related condition that stops me from joining in regular team activities.

I have a sleep condition that affects how much or well I sleep.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Home Protocol

Participants perform the protocol during a home series

5 days

Daily monitoring

Away Protocol (No Time Zone Change)

Participants perform the protocol during a road series in the same time zone as home

5 days

Daily monitoring

Away Protocol (3 h Time Zone Change, Adopt Away Schedule)

Participants perform the protocol during a road series across three time zones, adopting the new time zone schedule

5 days

Daily monitoring

Away Protocol (3 h Time Zone Change, Maintain Home Schedule)

Participants perform the protocol during a road series across three time zones, maintaining their home time zone schedule

5 days

Daily monitoring

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the protocol

1-2 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Maintain home-based schedule

Trial Overview The study examines if elite female athletes can reduce the negative effects of jet lag on sleep and performance by sticking to their home time zone schedule after traveling across time zones.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Away (3 h Time Zone Change, Maintain Home Schedule) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants will perform the protocol during a road series across three time zones. The team will maintain the schedule of their home time zone.

Group II: Home Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will perform the protocol during a home series

Group III: Away (No Time Zone Change) Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will perform the protocol during a road series in the same time zone as home.

Group IV: Away (3 h Time Zone Change, Adopt Away Schedule) Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants will perform the protocol during a road series across three time zones. The team will adopt the schedule of the new time zone.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Florida State University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

234

Recruited

41,100+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3086113/

Jet Lag: Current and Potential Therapies - PMC Symptoms may include disturbed sleep, daytime fatigue, decreased ability to perform mental and physical tasks, reduced alertness, and headaches. Sleep ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11554432/

Unraveling the Impact of Travel on Circadian Rhythm and ... Melatonin helps resynchronize the circadian rhythms disrupted by jet lag, thereby promoting better sleep-wake cycles. The hormone's interactions ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0277953625000188

Association between behavioral jet lag with subjective and ... Higher behavioral jet lags were significantly associated with increased risk of circadian disruption among young adults.

4. ccjm.org ccjm.org/content/ccjom/78/10/675.full.pdf

Jet lag and shift work sleep disorders This review will focus on jet lag sleep disor- der and shift work sleep disorder, with an em- phasis on the causes, the clinical assessment, and ...

5. academic.oup.com academic.oup.com/sleep/article/48/7/zsaf077/8092480

Insights about travel-related sleep disruption from 1.5 million ... These data provide a new insight into how sleep is affected by everyday travel under real-world conditions, which have been difficult to replicate in previous ...

6. ahajournals.org ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001388

Role of Circadian Health in Cardiometabolic Health and ... Therefore, high day-to-day variability in sleep–wake timing, as seen in shift work or jet lag, could lead to substantial circadian disruption.

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2829880/

How To Travel the World Without Jet lag - PMC This article is on describing in detail how melatonin, bright light and sleep schedules can be used in conjunction with currently available flight times to ...