Résumé : | Objective: The aim of this study is to explore the potential influence of the menstrual cycle, with a particular focus on the menstrual and mid-luteal phases, on the physical performance of women engaging in moderate physical activity.
Materials and Methods: An observational study was conducted. We assessed the physical performance of participants using three simple and valid tests: the 10-meter sprint, vertical jump, and hexagonal agility test. These evaluations took place over two menstrual cycles during four separate sessions. The first session occurred six days before the onset of menstruation, and the second on the third day of menstruation, for each of the two cycles. In the final session, a questionnaire was administered to participants to gather their feedback, especially regarding any observed variations in performance on the third day of menstruation.
Results: The analysis revealed a significant decrease in performance on the third day of bleeding compared to the mid-luteal phase, observed in both the sprint and hexagonal agility tests. This significant decrease was evident in both the first cycle (p-value = 0.004 and p-value = 0.006) and the second menstrual cycle (p-value = 0.008 and p-value = 0.007). The vertical jump test showed variations between the two menstrual cycles.
Conclusion: Based on our results, it appears that physical performance may vary during the menstrual cycle in women engaging in moderate physical activity and not using hormonal contraception. However, due to the lack of consensus on the subject, we do not claim to definitively affirm the existence of these variations. Additional studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to support this observation.
Keywords: performance, menstrual cycle, women, sport, contraception |