title: Effect of menstrual cycle phase on sprinting performance.
abstract: This study examined the effects of menstrual cycle phase (MCP) upon sprinting and recovery as well as upon metabolic responses to such exercise. Eight females performed a repeated 30-s sprint on a non-motorised treadmill interspersed with a 2-min rest in three phases of the MCP, follicular (low 17beta-estradiol and progesterone), just prior to ovulation (midcycle trial, highest 17beta-estradiol concentration and low progesterone) and in the luteal phase (high 17beta-estradiol and high progesterone). MCP was verified later by radioimmunoassay of 17beta-estradiol and progesterone. Peak power output (PPO) and mean power output (MPO) were unaltered (P > 0.05) due to MCP [PPO for sprint 1: 463 (18) W vs. 443 (15) W vs. 449 (18) W; PPO for sprint 2: 395 (17) W vs. 359 (16) W vs. 397 (17) W; MPO for sprint 1: 302 (15) W vs. 298 (13) W vs. 298 (14) W; MPO for sprint 2: 252 (10) W vs. 248 (10) W vs. 259 (12) W for follicular, midcycle and luteal trial, mean (SEM), respectively]. Similarly, percentage recovery of PPO and MPO (the PPO or MPO during sprint 2 expressed as a percentage of the PPO or MPO during sprint 1) was also unchanged (P > 0.05). Blood lactate, blood pH and plasma ammonia after sprinting and estimated plasma volume were also unaltered by MCP (P > 0.05). These findings suggest that hormonal fluctuations due to MCP do not interfere with maximal intensity whole body sprinting and the metabolic responses to such exercise.
authors.affiliation: School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, LE11 3TU, UK. ATsampoukos@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Antonios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsampoukos
authors.forename: Esther A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Peckham
authors.forename: Rhian
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Nevill
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000641:Ammonia / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010953:Plasma Volume; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012420:Running; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019344:Lactic Acid; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D000641:Ammonia