menstrual cycle and physical performance of female athletes (1)

8/9/2019 Menstrual Cycle and Physical Performance of Female Athletes (1)

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themsel$es for"ard during participation Alterations in athletic performance experienced

during different phases of the menstrual cycle are su&%ect to considera&le indi$idual

$aria&ility

3e&run (**4) pu&lished a comprehensi$e re$ie" of the literature examining the

effect of menstrual cycle phase on athletic performance According to an analysis of the

sur$eys' most female athletes did not report any detriments' "hile a minority reported

impro$ements during menstruation !ome studies report differences during the cycle

phases "ith &est performances during the intermediate postmenstrual days and "orse

performances during premenstrual and initialflo" days .ysmenorrhea' in practical

terms affects athletic performance more than menorrhagia Many female athletes suffer

from dysmenorrhea .ysmenorrhea distracts from the feeling of "ell&eing For that

reason' it negati$ely affects performance, some of the pro&lem may &e psychologically

induced

ther reports are effects of premenstrual syndrome (PM!) on exercise

performance 5early all "omen are familiar "ith symptoms of &loating' headaches'

fatigue' and cramping during the late luteal phase Many studies relate an increase in

percei$ed exertion during premenstrual and early menstruation days As "ell' se$eral

authors reported that effects of PM! could alter performance as the tas-s increased indifficulty and complexity thers note impairments in exercise performance arise from

&reast tenderness' a&dominal constriction' and fatigue

Also according to the research of 3e&run (**4) the menstrual cycle can also

increase the ris- of ha$ing musculos-eletal and %oint in%uries The lac- of the protecti$e

effect of estrogen on &one causes deminerali6ation or premature osteoporosis' leading

to an increased ris- of scoliosis' stress fractures' and other more serious fractures

7$en "ith resumption of normal menses' some of these changes can &e irre$ersi&le

Adolescence in particular is "hen 80+0 percent of s-eletal &one is laid do"n and

consolidated 3o" estrogen and poor nutrition during these years may lead to a lo"

pea- &one mass



#o"e$er' some physical and physiological characteristics of athletes "ere found

significantly different &et"een sport &ranches according to Claessens (**2) 9t "as

determined that highintensity training in team sports increased menstrual dysfunction

&ut it "as found that the menstrual function returned to normal after decreasing the

training intensity or stopping the training for a "hile(:ysal' **8) These dysfunctions

happen as a result of hormonal and &ody function changes during highintensity training

(!hangold' **0)7xcessi$e loss of &ody "eight and &ody fat ratio causes the irregular

menstrual cycle Training and competition stress also causes these dysfunction

!e$eral coaches suggest their female athletes log their menstrual cycle and

associated physical and emotional states They can also chart their exercise and

athletic performance to esta&lish strongest and &est training days and "hen they are

impaired This "ill facilitate modifying a training schedule &y planning for strenuous

sessions' pea- training and "hen rest is needed Factors that can &e altered are

$olume (num&er and duration of repetitions)' intensity (speed and load)' and difficulty

(s-ill le$el and in%ury ris-) 5utritional considerations should also &e factored to optimi6e

reco$ery and fuel stores 9t is important for athlete and coach to remem&er that all

athletes are indi$iduals and may respond differently A master plan may not "or- for all

Careful record -eeping and modifications in training if needed may increase

performance and reduce ris- of in%uries 9n todays increasingly competiti$e sports field'

this may &ecome important to achie$e athletic excellence

Conclusi$ely' the effect of menstruation on performance is e;ui$ocal and unclear'

&ut a "oman "ho is experiencing PM! "ill li-ely not perform "ell "hile she is

experiencing the symptoms

Female athlete experiencing menstrual irregularities and

distur&ances should undergo a detailed medical in$estigation and management &efore

further training

7xerciserelated reproducti$e disorders ha$e &een sho"n to ha$e

serious conse;uences' mainly in$ol$ing osteoporosis Thus' pre$enti$e measures'

prompt e$aluation and management of indi$iduals at ris- are highly recommended

menstrual cycle and physical performance of female athletes (1)

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