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UPPER EXTREMITY MUSCULAR PERFORMANCE AND PERCEIVED PERFORMANCE READINESS IN COLLEGIATE ATHLETES ACROSS THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE

Abstract

PURPOSE: Female sex hormone (estrogen and progesterone) concentrations fluctuate throughout phases of the menstrual cycle, which may impact muscular strength and endurance. We assessed muscular strength, endurance, and perceived fatigue, motivation, strength, and energy at different phases of the menstrual cycle. METHODS: Collegiate softball players participated in this study (n = 11; 19 ± 1 yr). During the initial visit, participants’ height, weight, body composition (InBody 770), resting metabolic rate (Parvo TrueOne 2400), and cycle history were determined (FLO app). Participants returned during their projected early-follicular (EF), ovulatory (OV), and mid-luteal (ML) phases for performance testing. During EF, OV, and ML, participants reported their perceived fatigue, motivation, strength, and energy. Following a standardized warm-up, participants performed 1RM bench press testing. After establishing their 1RM, participants then performed 70% of their bench press 1RM for as many repetitions as possible (reps to failure or RTF). Differences in the data collected between EF, OV, and ML were determined using a one-way, repeated measures MANOVA followed by Bonferroni post-hoc testing. All data are reported as mean ± standard deviation, and a was set at p ≤ .05. RESULTS: Perceived motivation (3.2% > EF, 40.3% > OV), strength (12.4% > EF, 14.2% > OV), and energy (1.7% > EF, 23.5% > OV) peaked during ML, though these results were not significant (p > .05). Perceive fatigue was also lower during ML compared to EF (-17.8%) and OV (19.8), though this was not significant (p > .05). Bench press 1RM peaked during EF (51.1 ± 6.2 kg) compared to OV (47.7 ± 0.0 kg) and ML (50  6.8 kg). Bench press RTF (repetitions) peaked during OV (12.7 ± 2.5) compared to EF (10.4 ± 2.2) and ML (11.7  3.8). CONCLUSION: Participants’ self-reported motivation, strength, energy was highest during ML, while self-reported fatigue was also lowest during ML. Despite this consistency, bench press 1RM and RTF peaked during EF and OV, respectively. Though no statistical significance was found, it appears there is a disconnect between perceived readiness for performance testing and the actual performance testing. Further data collection will clarify the potential differences in these characteristics in female athletes throughout the menstrual cycle.

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