title: Effects of follicular versus luteal phase-based strength training in young women.
abstract: Hormonal variations during the menstrual cycle (MC) may influence trainability of strength. We investigated the effects of a follicular phase-based strength training (FT) on muscle strength, muscle volume and microscopic parameters, comparing it to a luteal phase-based training (LT). Eumenorrheic women without oral contraception (OC) (N = 20, age: 25.9 ± 4.5 yr, height: 164.2 ± 5.5 cm, weight: 60.6 ± 7.8 kg) completed strength training on a leg press for three MC, and 9 of them participated in muscle biopsies. One leg had eight training sessions in the follicular phases (FP) and only two sessions in the luteal phases (LP) for follicular phase-based training (FT), while the other leg had eight training sessions in LP and only two sessions in FP for luteal phase-based training (LT). Estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), total testosterone (T), free testosterone (free T) and DHEA-s were analysed once during FP (around day 11) and once during LP (around day 25). Maximum isometric force (Fmax), muscle diameter (Mdm), muscle fibre composition (No), fibre diameter (Fdm) and cell nuclei-to-fibre ratio (N/F) were analysed before and after the training intervention. T and free T were higher in FP compared to LP prior to the training intervention (P < 0.05). The increase in Fmax after FT was higher compared to LT (P <0.05). FT also showed a higher increase in Mdm than LT (P < 0.05). Moreover, we found significant increases in Fdm of fibre type ΙΙ and in N/F only after FT; however, there was no significant difference from LT. With regard to change in fibre composition, no differences were observed between FT and LT. FT showed a higher gain in muscle strength and muscle diameter than LT. As a result, we recommend that eumenorrheic females without OC should base the periodization of their strength training on their individual MC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine and Sports Nutrition, Faculty of Sport Science, Ruhr-University Bochum, Gesundheitscampus Nord, Bochum, Haus 10, 44801 Germany ; Department of Health and Fitness Management, Woosong University, Deajeon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Eunsook
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine and Sports Nutrition, Faculty of Sport Science, Ruhr-University Bochum, Gesundheitscampus Nord, Bochum, Haus 10, 44801 Germany.
authors.forename: Ahreum
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine and Sports Nutrition, Faculty of Sport Science, Ruhr-University Bochum, Gesundheitscampus Nord, Bochum, Haus 10, 44801 Germany ; Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hinrichs
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Kliniken Bergmannsheil, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vorgerd
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Specific Didactics, Faculty of Education, University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manchado
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine and Sports Nutrition, Faculty of Sport Science, Ruhr-University Bochum, Gesundheitscampus Nord, Bochum, Haus 10, 44801 Germany.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Platen
keywords: Anabolic hormones; Eumenorrheic menstrual cycle; Isometric strength; Muscle diameter; Muscle fibre