Effects of menstrual phase on performance and recovery in intense intermittent activity

Abstract

Game sport and training require repeated high intensity bursts. This study examined differences between high intensity, intermittent work in two phases of the menstrual cycle. Six physically active young women (age 19-29) performed 10 6-s sprints on a cycle ergometer in both the mid-follicular (FP) (days 6-10) and late-luteal phases (LP) (days 20-24) of the menstrual cycle. Work, power, oxygen intake (VO2) parameters, and capillarized blood lactate were measured. Data are analyzed using the Friedman and Wilcoxon matched pairs tests. There was no difference between menstrual phases in peak 6-s power (6.8(0.6) W kg(-1) in FP, 6.9(0.6) W kg(-1) in LP), the drop off in work (1.2(3.5) J kg(-1) in FP and 1.0(2.7) J kg(-1) in LP), or in the sprint VO2 (23.7(1.5) mL kg(-1) min(-1) in LP and 24.3(2.4) mL kg(-1) min(-1) in FP). Capillarized blood lactate was also similar in both phases of the menstrual cycle both at 1 min (9.2(2.7) mmol L(-1) in FP, 9.2(3.1) mmol L(-1)) and at 3 min (9.0(2.2) mmol L(-1) in FP, 9.2(2.2) mmol L(-1) in LP). However, the average 6-s work was greater in the LP (39.3(3.4) J kg(-1)) than during the FP (38.3(3.1) J kg(-1)) (P=0.023). The recovery VO2 was also greater in the LP than the FP (26.3(2.4) mL kg(-1) min(-1) in LP, 25.0(2.6) mL kg(-1) min(-1) in FP, P=0.023). Average work over a series of sprints and the VO2 consumed between sprints may be slightly greater during the LP than the FP of the menstrual cycle.

Effect of menstrual cycle phase on sprinting performance

“…Mean peak whole blood lactate concentration did not change due to MCP, a finding which is consistent with previous investigations (Lynch and Nimmo 1998;Middleton and Wenger 2006). In addition, blood pH values were similar across MCPs.…”

“…However, Harber et al (1998) reported that amenorrheic subjects had a different hypothalamic-pituitary thyroid axis profile compared with eumenorrheic-endurance athletes as indicated by lower thyroxine and triiodothyronine concentrations complicating any clear influences of reproductive hormones on recovery of PCr and thus on the recovery of sprinting (Bogdanis et al 1996). However, Middleton and Wenger (2006) did find higher work performed over a series of sprints during the luteal phase of the cycle and associated this improvement with the positive influence of 17b-estradiol on PCr restoration. However, peak power or recovery of power was unaltered due to MCP as it was in the present study.…”

“…Few studies have examined the effect of the MCP on sprinting (all out effort of around 30 s or less) and the findings in the literature are equivocal. For example, better performance during the follicular phase has been shown for a single swimming sprint and for repeated sprint cycling (Bale and Nelson 1985;Parish and Jakeman 1987) whereas better performance during the luteal phase has been shown for a single cycle sprint and repeated cycling sprints (Masterson 1999;Middleton and Wenger 2006). Furthermore, two studies examining a single cycle sprint and repeated cycle ergometer sprints have shown no impact of the MCP on performance (Busman et al 2006;Miskec et al 1997).…”

“…It has been suggested that ovarian hormones may affect phosphocreatine (PCr) recovery rates induced by the slower rates of PCr recovery after plantar flexion exercises in amenorrheicendurance athletes in comparison with eumenorrheic (Harber et al 1998). Higher PCr recovery has also been suggested by Middleton and Wenger (2006) where work over a series of ten 6-s sprints was greater in the luteal phase in comparison with the midfollicular. It has also been suggested that increased concentrations of 17b-estradiol may improve muscle buffering capacity during 10 s of sprint rowing (Redman and Weatherby 2004).…”

Influence of selected phases of the menstrual cycle on performance in Special judo fitness test and Wingate test

“…Harber, Petersen, and Chilibeck (1998) demonstrated that amenorrheic endurance trained athletes have slower CP recovery rates, following plantar flexion exercises, than their eumenorrheic counterparts, suggesting an influence of ovarian hormone status on muscle phosphate recovery. Middelton and Wenger (2006) reported better total work after 10 times 6-second sprint in the cycle ergometer. These authors think that higher phosphocreatine (PCr) and adenosine triphosphate stores would explain the higher performance during LP.…”