title: The role of the menstrual cycle phase in pain perception before and after an isometric fatiguing contraction.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare exercise-induced analgesia in young women after a fatiguing isometric contraction during different phases of the menstrual cycle. Twenty female subjects performed a submaximal (25% maximal voluntary contraction) isometric contraction until task failure during both the mid-follicular and mid-luteal phases of their menstrual cycle. Pain perception (i.e., pain threshold and pain ratings) was measured before and after the isometric fatiguing contraction. Other measures included mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and anxiety levels. Time to task failure of the fatiguing contraction was similar for the two phases of the menstrual cycle. Following the performance of the isometric contraction: (1) pain thresholds increased and pain ratings decreased; (2) anxiety levels increased; and (3) mean arterial pressure and heart rate increased. These changes were not dependent on the phase of the menstrual cycle. Thus, the menstrual cycle phase does not influence the magnitude of exercise-induced analgesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA. mariehoeger.bement@marquette.edu
authors.forename: Marie K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Hoeger Bement
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Rasiarmos
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: DiCapo
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Manda L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: April L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Harkins
authors.forename: Sandra K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hunter
mesh_terms: D001007:Anxiety / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000502:physiology*; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D017288:Pain Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014690:Venous Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone