The Female Menstrual Cycles Effect on Strength and Power Parameters in High-Level Female Team Athletes
PurposeThe female menstrual cycle (MC) is characterized by hormonal fluctuations throughout its different phases. However, research regarding its effect on athletic performance in high level athletes is sparse. The aim of this study was to (i) investigate the female MCs effect on strength and power...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-02-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2021.600668/full |
| _version_ | 1819297844428800000 |
|---|---|
| author | Marcus S. Dasa Morten Kristoffersen Elisabeth Ersvær Lars Peder Bovim Lise Bjørkhaug Rolf Moe-Nilssen Jørn V. Sagen Jørn V. Sagen Inger Haukenes Inger Haukenes |
| author_facet | Marcus S. Dasa Morten Kristoffersen Elisabeth Ersvær Lars Peder Bovim Lise Bjørkhaug Rolf Moe-Nilssen Jørn V. Sagen Jørn V. Sagen Inger Haukenes Inger Haukenes |
| author_sort | Marcus S. Dasa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | PurposeThe female menstrual cycle (MC) is characterized by hormonal fluctuations throughout its different phases. However, research regarding its effect on athletic performance in high level athletes is sparse. The aim of this study was to (i) investigate the female MCs effect on strength and power performance in highly trained female team athletes throughout the MC and (ii) examine whether eumenorrheic participants with natural hormonal fluctuations displayed enhanced performance in the follicular phase (FP) versus the luteal phase (LP), compared to controls using hormonal contraceptives.Materials and MethodsA total of 29 athletes (Age 21.2 ± 3.3 years; weight 65.6 ± 8.7 kg; height 170.2 ± 8.0 cm; and fat free mass 52.7 ± 7.1) completed the study after a 6-week testing period (8 eumenorrheic participants and 21 hormonal contraceptive controls). Participants were recruited from the team sports soccer, handball and volleyball. Testing protocol consisted of maximal voluntary isometric grip strength, 20-m sprint, countermovement jump and pneumatic leg-press. Based on self-reported use of hormonal contraceptives, participants were divided into non-hormonal contraceptive group and hormonal contraceptive group, the latter working as a control group. Differences in performance between the FP and LP were investigated. MC phase was confirmed by serum hormonal levels through venous blood samples in the non-hormonal contraceptive group.ResultsThere were no statistically significant changes for the two different phases of the MC, in terms of physical performance for the whole group. Further, there was no significant difference between groups during the MC for any of the outcome variables, maximal voluntary isometric grip strength F(3.29) = 0.362; 20-m sprint F(3.24) = 0.710; countermovement jump F(3.26) = 2.361; and leg-press F(3.26) = 1.746.ConclusionIn high level female team athletes, no difference in performance was observed based on hormonal contraceptive status. This suggests that the MC does not alter acute strength and power performance on a group level in high level team athletes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-24T05:20:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-eec67276751b4fbea8106e8381b14939 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-24T05:20:28Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-eec67276751b4fbea8106e8381b149392022-12-21T17:13:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2021-02-011210.3389/fphys.2021.600668600668The Female Menstrual Cycles Effect on Strength and Power Parameters in High-Level Female Team AthletesMarcus S. Dasa0Morten Kristoffersen1Elisabeth Ersvær2Lars Peder Bovim3Lise Bjørkhaug4Rolf Moe-Nilssen5Jørn V. Sagen6Jørn V. Sagen7Inger Haukenes8Inger Haukenes9Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, NorwayDepartment of Sport, Food, and Natural Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, NorwayDepartment of Safety, Chemistry, and Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, NorwayDepartment of Health and Functioning, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, NorwayDepartment of Safety, Chemistry, and Biomedical Laboratory Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Bergen, NorwayDepartment of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, NorwayDepartment of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, NorwayDepartment of Medical Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, NorwayDepartment of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen, NorwayResearch Unit for General Practice, NORCE Norwegian Research Centre, Bergen, NorwayPurposeThe female menstrual cycle (MC) is characterized by hormonal fluctuations throughout its different phases. However, research regarding its effect on athletic performance in high level athletes is sparse. The aim of this study was to (i) investigate the female MCs effect on strength and power performance in highly trained female team athletes throughout the MC and (ii) examine whether eumenorrheic participants with natural hormonal fluctuations displayed enhanced performance in the follicular phase (FP) versus the luteal phase (LP), compared to controls using hormonal contraceptives.Materials and MethodsA total of 29 athletes (Age 21.2 ± 3.3 years; weight 65.6 ± 8.7 kg; height 170.2 ± 8.0 cm; and fat free mass 52.7 ± 7.1) completed the study after a 6-week testing period (8 eumenorrheic participants and 21 hormonal contraceptive controls). Participants were recruited from the team sports soccer, handball and volleyball. Testing protocol consisted of maximal voluntary isometric grip strength, 20-m sprint, countermovement jump and pneumatic leg-press. Based on self-reported use of hormonal contraceptives, participants were divided into non-hormonal contraceptive group and hormonal contraceptive group, the latter working as a control group. Differences in performance between the FP and LP were investigated. MC phase was confirmed by serum hormonal levels through venous blood samples in the non-hormonal contraceptive group.ResultsThere were no statistically significant changes for the two different phases of the MC, in terms of physical performance for the whole group. Further, there was no significant difference between groups during the MC for any of the outcome variables, maximal voluntary isometric grip strength F(3.29) = 0.362; 20-m sprint F(3.24) = 0.710; countermovement jump F(3.26) = 2.361; and leg-press F(3.26) = 1.746.ConclusionIn high level female team athletes, no difference in performance was observed based on hormonal contraceptive status. This suggests that the MC does not alter acute strength and power performance on a group level in high level team athletes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2021.600668/fullmenstrual cyclefemale athletesstrengthpowerhormones |
| spellingShingle | Marcus S. Dasa Morten Kristoffersen Elisabeth Ersvær Lars Peder Bovim Lise Bjørkhaug Rolf Moe-Nilssen Jørn V. Sagen Jørn V. Sagen Inger Haukenes Inger Haukenes The Female Menstrual Cycles Effect on Strength and Power Parameters in High-Level Female Team Athletes Frontiers in Physiology menstrual cycle female athletes strength power hormones |
| title | The Female Menstrual Cycles Effect on Strength and Power Parameters in High-Level Female Team Athletes |
| title_full | The Female Menstrual Cycles Effect on Strength and Power Parameters in High-Level Female Team Athletes |
| title_fullStr | The Female Menstrual Cycles Effect on Strength and Power Parameters in High-Level Female Team Athletes |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Female Menstrual Cycles Effect on Strength and Power Parameters in High-Level Female Team Athletes |
| title_short | The Female Menstrual Cycles Effect on Strength and Power Parameters in High-Level Female Team Athletes |
| title_sort | female menstrual cycles effect on strength and power parameters in high level female team athletes |
| topic | menstrual cycle female athletes strength power hormones |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2021.600668/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT marcussdasa thefemalemenstrualcycleseffectonstrengthandpowerparametersinhighlevelfemaleteamathletes AT mortenkristoffersen thefemalemenstrualcycleseffectonstrengthandpowerparametersinhighlevelfemaleteamathletes AT elisabethersvær thefemalemenstrualcycleseffectonstrengthandpowerparametersinhighlevelfemaleteamathletes AT larspederbovim thefemalemenstrualcycleseffectonstrengthandpowerparametersinhighlevelfemaleteamathletes AT lisebjørkhaug thefemalemenstrualcycleseffectonstrengthandpowerparametersinhighlevelfemaleteamathletes AT rolfmoenilssen thefemalemenstrualcycleseffectonstrengthandpowerparametersinhighlevelfemaleteamathletes AT jørnvsagen thefemalemenstrualcycleseffectonstrengthandpowerparametersinhighlevelfemaleteamathletes AT jørnvsagen thefemalemenstrualcycleseffectonstrengthandpowerparametersinhighlevelfemaleteamathletes AT ingerhaukenes thefemalemenstrualcycleseffectonstrengthandpowerparametersinhighlevelfemaleteamathletes AT ingerhaukenes thefemalemenstrualcycleseffectonstrengthandpowerparametersinhighlevelfemaleteamathletes AT marcussdasa femalemenstrualcycleseffectonstrengthandpowerparametersinhighlevelfemaleteamathletes AT mortenkristoffersen femalemenstrualcycleseffectonstrengthandpowerparametersinhighlevelfemaleteamathletes AT elisabethersvær femalemenstrualcycleseffectonstrengthandpowerparametersinhighlevelfemaleteamathletes AT larspederbovim femalemenstrualcycleseffectonstrengthandpowerparametersinhighlevelfemaleteamathletes AT lisebjørkhaug femalemenstrualcycleseffectonstrengthandpowerparametersinhighlevelfemaleteamathletes AT rolfmoenilssen femalemenstrualcycleseffectonstrengthandpowerparametersinhighlevelfemaleteamathletes AT jørnvsagen femalemenstrualcycleseffectonstrengthandpowerparametersinhighlevelfemaleteamathletes AT jørnvsagen femalemenstrualcycleseffectonstrengthandpowerparametersinhighlevelfemaleteamathletes AT ingerhaukenes femalemenstrualcycleseffectonstrengthandpowerparametersinhighlevelfemaleteamathletes AT ingerhaukenes femalemenstrualcycleseffectonstrengthandpowerparametersinhighlevelfemaleteamathletes |