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Maximal force and tremor changes across the menstrual cycle

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European Journal of Applied Physiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Sex hormones have profound effects on the nervous system in vitro and in vivo. The present study examines the effect of the menstrual cycle on maximal isometric force (MVC) and tremor during an endurance task.

Methods

Nine eumenorrheic females participated in five study visits across their menstrual cycle. In each menstrual phase, an MVC and an endurance task to failure were performed. Tremor across the endurance task was quantified as the coefficient of variation in force and was assessed in absolute time and relative percent time to task failure.

Results

MVC decreases 23 % from ovulation to the mid luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. In absolute time, the mid luteal phase has the highest initial tremor, though the early follicular phase has substantially higher tremor than other phases after 150 s of task performance. In relative time, the mid luteal phase has the highest level of tremor throughout the endurance task.

Conclusions

Both MVC and tremor during an endurance task are modified by the menstrual cycle. Performance of tasks and sports which require high force and steadiness to exhaustion may be decreased in the mid luteal phase compared to other menstrual phases.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

BBT:

Basal body temperature

ERα:

Estrogen receptor alpha

GABA:

Γ-aminobutyric acid

MVC:

Maximal voluntary contraction

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Human Research and Engineering Directorate, RDRL-HRS-B, US Army Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, USA

    Matthew S. Tenan

  2. Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Anthony C. Hackney

  3. Department of Nutrition, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Anthony C. Hackney

  4. Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Lisa Griffin

Authors
  1. Matthew S. Tenan
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  2. Anthony C. Hackney
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  3. Lisa Griffin
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Correspondence to Matthew S. Tenan.

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Conflict of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report. All research involving humans was supervised by the local ethics board and included informed consent.

Additional information

Communicated by William J. Kraemer.

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Tenan, M.S., Hackney, A.C. & Griffin, L. Maximal force and tremor changes across the menstrual cycle. Eur J Appl Physiol 116, 153–160 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3258-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-015-3258-x

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