Abstract
The Muscle Damage Across Menstrual Cycle Phase (MuDAM) study examined estrogen’s critical role in muscle recovery after muscle damage to the knee flexors. Knee flexor strength plays a critical role as antagonist muscles to provide stability to the knee joint during the deceleration phase of sprinting, particularly during change of direction movements. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to identify the rate of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), pain, and performance during Phase 1 (low levels of estrogen and low levels of progesterone); Phase 2 (peak levels of estrogen and low levels of progesterone); and Phase 4 (peak levels of progesterone and high levels of estrogen) in moderately active eumenorrheic females. A secondary purpose was to identify the severity of any menstural cycle pain (MCP) symptoms during testing and their relationship with DOMS, pain, and performance. It was hypothesized the rate of DOMS and pain post-resistance training is greater during Phase 1 and that performance is lower with MCP symptoms and DOMS. METHODS: The experimental design involved pre-and-post-test measures during randomized testing of Phase 1, Phase 2, and Phase 4. The dominant leg performed the eccentric exercise while the nondominant leg served as the control leg. Post-tests occurred immediately post (IP), 24-h, 48-h, and 72-h. Measures included DOMS quantified by hamstring flexibility and thigh circumference measurements, visual analog scale (VAS) measurements of pain and soreness, performance tests of 100% maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of the knee flexors and a 20-sec side hop (SH) test. RESULTS: Preliminary findings suggest the rate of DOMS was greater in Phase 1, during lower levels of estrogen. MVIC performance was also affected during Phase 1. Twenty three premenstrual (PMS) symptoms were included in the investigation of this study and certain symptoms were more significant in Phase 1 compared to Phase 4. It was discovered PMS symptoms affected DOMS, performance, and pain. Pain levels were significantly greater during Phase 1 compared to Phase 2 and Phase 4. However, it is worthy to state that the impact on DOMS, performance, and pain may be dependent by the type of PMS symptoms present. CONCLUSION: Preliminary findings highlight the role hormonal fluctuations and PMS play in tissues of the body, and their critical role in pain and muscle damage that affect the recovery processes during MCP. There is more to discover with regards to DOMS, pain levels, and PMS symptoms.
Recommended Citation
Pollock, Jeromea "Jiji" Ph.D.
(2025)
"Muscle Damage Across Menstrual Cycle Phase,"
International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 14:
Iss.
5, Article 92.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol14/iss5/92
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