Menstrual Cycle Symptoms and Female Distance Runners' Performance

Golden, Dana, Education - School of Education and Human Development, University of Virginia
Hertel, Jay, ED-KINE, University of Virginia
Attempting to measure the menstrual cycle for field-based sports science research can be challenging due to the resource burden required to obtain objective hormonal measures and the prolonged time commitment to establish the subjects’ cycle timeline. Physical or emotional symptoms can manifest secondary to the menstrual cycle. Among female athletes, symptoms related to the menstrual cycle have been reported to impact perceived sport performance. Varied menstrual health states can be present among endurance runners due to the high training volume associated with the sport. Symptom reporting may be a non-invasive strategy to determine perceived impact to sport performance.
The purpose of manuscript 1 was to yield descriptive self-reported menstrual cycle symptoms among young adult female endurance runners over a three-month collection window. This study was conducted with two separate cohorts completing a baseline survey and daily survey. The baseline survey included questions about menstrual cycle health and current state of wellness, training and competition. Daily surveys asked whether subjects were or were not experiencing menstrual cycle-related symptoms and if those symptoms influenced their training. A total of 466 days with symptoms were reported (28.3%) and 1,183 days where subjects were asymptomatic (71.7%). Bloating, cramps, and fatigue were the most common symptoms reported with bloating also incurring the greatest perceived impact. Having a natural cycle or taking a hormonal contraceptive did not influence if symptoms were experienced.
The purpose of manuscript 2 was to evaluate if running biomechanics as measured with wearable sensors were different on days when young adult female distance runners did or did not report menstrual cycle symptoms. Training information recorded from daily surveys was compared to spatiotemporal, kinematic, and kinetic measures during running to determine objective changes in performance. All subjects reported experiencing menstrual cycle-related symptoms at some point through the data collection period, however, there was no significant differences observed in biomechanical measures during runs on symptomatic days versus asymptomatic days.
The purpose of manuscript 3 was to compare if self-reported wellness scores were different on days when young adult female distance runners did or did not report menstrual cycle symptoms. The Short Recovery and Stress Scale [SRSS] was used to evaluate daily stress and recovery constructs. Baseline reference values were generated for each subject using the first seven days of data collection the subject reported being asymptomatic. Days not included for reference value development were used to yield mean scores when symptomatic or asymptomatic. Daily wellness scores showed minimal variability between days subjects were symptomatic and asymptomatic. We did, however, identify a difference between baseline stress scores and symptomatic mean scores.
Prospective tracking of menstrual cycle-related symptoms is a feasible strategy to monitor wellness in female endurance runners. Symptom burden was present in this sport population. Yet, there were no significant differences in performance variables. Future research should explore education interventions and individualized symptom management strategies to aid female athletes who experience menstrual cycle-related symptoms.
PHD (Doctor of Philosophy)
female athlete, menstrual cycle symptoms, running, wearable technology
English
All rights reserved (no additional license for public reuse)
2024/07/11