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Menstrual cycle phase and elite female soccer match-play: influence on various physical performance outputs

Menstrual cycle phase and elite female soccer match-play: influence on various physical... Introduction The aim of the study was to investigate whether menstrual cycle phases influence the physical performance during soccer match-play. Methods Fifteen elite female soccer players, with physiologically normal menstrual cycles, competed in matches over a four-month period. Physical performance was assessed via GPS and expressed as meters per minute, and separated into four individualised thresholds (low, high, very high and sprinting). Seventy-six complete individual match observations, 36 from the follicular and 40 from the luteal phase were recorded. The differences in physical match performance parameters between the cycle phases were evaluated using a mixed linear model. Results The results of the current study indicate that very high-intensity running distance was significantly greater during the luteal phase compared to the follicular phase (5.90 ± 2.16 m.min−1 vs. 6.64 ± 2.72 m.min−1; p = 0.02). However, this finding was accompanied by large variations across matches (CV = 39.5%). Conclusions Overall, the results suggest that the menstrual cycle phase does not influence match physical performance of female soccer players to a significant degree. Therefore, at present, interventions or other methods of coping with menstrual cycle phase do not seem necessary on a group/team level to maximise competitive physical performance. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Science and Medicine in Football Taylor & Francis

Menstrual cycle phase and elite female soccer match-play: influence on various physical performance outputs

Menstrual cycle phase and elite female soccer match-play: influence on various physical performance outputs

Science and Medicine in Football , Volume 5 (2): 8 – Apr 3, 2021

Abstract

Introduction The aim of the study was to investigate whether menstrual cycle phases influence the physical performance during soccer match-play. Methods Fifteen elite female soccer players, with physiologically normal menstrual cycles, competed in matches over a four-month period. Physical performance was assessed via GPS and expressed as meters per minute, and separated into four individualised thresholds (low, high, very high and sprinting). Seventy-six complete individual match observations, 36 from the follicular and 40 from the luteal phase were recorded. The differences in physical match performance parameters between the cycle phases were evaluated using a mixed linear model. Results The results of the current study indicate that very high-intensity running distance was significantly greater during the luteal phase compared to the follicular phase (5.90 ± 2.16 m.min−1 vs. 6.64 ± 2.72 m.min−1; p = 0.02). However, this finding was accompanied by large variations across matches (CV = 39.5%). Conclusions Overall, the results suggest that the menstrual cycle phase does not influence match physical performance of female soccer players to a significant degree. Therefore, at present, interventions or other methods of coping with menstrual cycle phase do not seem necessary on a group/team level to maximise competitive physical performance.

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References (49)

Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Copyright
© 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group
ISSN
2473-4446
eISSN
2473-3938
DOI
10.1080/24733938.2020.1802057
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Introduction The aim of the study was to investigate whether menstrual cycle phases influence the physical performance during soccer match-play. Methods Fifteen elite female soccer players, with physiologically normal menstrual cycles, competed in matches over a four-month period. Physical performance was assessed via GPS and expressed as meters per minute, and separated into four individualised thresholds (low, high, very high and sprinting). Seventy-six complete individual match observations, 36 from the follicular and 40 from the luteal phase were recorded. The differences in physical match performance parameters between the cycle phases were evaluated using a mixed linear model. Results The results of the current study indicate that very high-intensity running distance was significantly greater during the luteal phase compared to the follicular phase (5.90 ± 2.16 m.min−1 vs. 6.64 ± 2.72 m.min−1; p = 0.02). However, this finding was accompanied by large variations across matches (CV = 39.5%). Conclusions Overall, the results suggest that the menstrual cycle phase does not influence match physical performance of female soccer players to a significant degree. Therefore, at present, interventions or other methods of coping with menstrual cycle phase do not seem necessary on a group/team level to maximise competitive physical performance.

Journal

Science and Medicine in FootballTaylor & Francis

Published: Apr 3, 2021

Keywords: Football; follicular; hormones; luteal; performance

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