Author(s): Khomdram Sheila Devi and Khadangbam Mukta Singh

Abstract:
This study explores the potential effect of each of the menstrual cycle phases on running performances among young elite female national football players from Manipur, India (ages 18-25, M=21.5, SD=2.1). Running performance was identified as the distance, while dribbling a football, that a player covered in a 30 sec test completed one week before menstruation (late follicular phase) and on the second day of menstruation. Menstrual cycle phase was tracked using the Flo app. Testing occurred in a controlled environment at an indoor facility in Imphal, in the capital city of Manipur. Descriptive statistics were calculated, normality was assessed with a Shapiro-Wilk test, paired t-tests were used to compare trials, Pearson's correlations were analyzed, and Cohen's d was reported for effect size. Results small performance improvement over mean running performance during menstruation (5.740 m, SD=0.259) when compared to late follicular phase (5.712, SD=0.238), t(19) = 0.501, p = 0.622; Cohen d = 0.112. Interestingly, performance was strongly correlated (r=0.770, p<0.001) in individual players across both conditions. In summary, the research demonstrates that menstrual cycle phases may have little influence on running performance in elite female national football players, likely due to the high workout volume and intensity. Overall, the findings support the framework that consistent training volumes across menstrual cycle phases persist for elite, national women athletes.

Pages: 179-182  |  253 Views  162 Downloads

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