Power Loading-Induced Fatigue Is Influenced by Menstrual Cycle Phase

This study aimed to examine the effects of fatiguing power loading on neuromuscular properties, force production, and metabolic capacities during four phases of the menstrual cycle (MC): menstruation (M), midfollicular (mid FOL), ovulation (OV), and midluteal (mid LUT).

Sixteen eumenorrheic women performed sessions of maximal explosive leg press (2 × 10 at 60% one-repetition maximum load with 2-min recovery between sets). Serum hormones and neuromuscular responses were measured.

The loading protocol significantly decreased power (between -14.2% and -12.5%; P < 0.001) and maximal force production (between maximum voluntary force (MVC); -15.0% and -7.8%; P < 0.001-0.05), while decreasing activation level (between AL; -6.9% and -2.2%; P < 0.001-0.05) in all MC phases. The decreases in AL were greater during mid LUT (P < 0.01) compared with OV. Changes in MVC and AL were associated (r2 = 0.53; P < 0.01) at all MC phases. The decrease in EMG during MVC did not differ between the MC phases; however, mean power frequency was higher during M (+7.7%; P < 0.05) and mid LUT (+3.1%; P < 0.05) compared with OV (-7.5%). Resting twitch force decreased during mid FOL (-6.9%; P < 0.05) and mid LUT (-16.2%; P < 0.001), and these values were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) compared with OV. In addition, resting twitch force at mid LUT was lower (P < 0.01) compared with M. Blood lactate levels increased more (P < 0.05) during M compared with mid LUT. Some serum hormone concentrations were associated with fatigue-induced changes in neuromuscular properties and force production, but these correlations behaved differently between the MC phases.

OV may offer a more favorable hormonal milieu for acute neural responses, whereas mid FOL and mid LUT seem to be superior for acute muscular responses.