Investigation of performance and subjective changes in female boxers according to the stages of the menstrual cycle: A prospective study

Mine AKKUŞ UÇAR

doi:10.5281/zenodo.17288881

Authors

Mine AKKUŞ UÇAR MARDİN ARTUKLU UNIVERSITY

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17288881

Keywords:

Menstrual cycle, Sleep quality , Fatigue, Stress, Delayed onset muscle soreness, Illinois Agility Test

Abstract

This study examines how the performance and physical and psychological state of female boxers change across different phases of their menstrual cycle (MCC). The research question is crucial for sports science and helps improve the performance of female athletes. The hypothesis is that the MCC phases significantly influence female boxers' performance and subjective experiences. Thirty amateur boxers aged 18-35 who had been training and competing consistently for the past 2 years participated in our prospective study. Daily questionnaires were administered, and three distinct phases of the menstrual cycle (follicular, ovulatory, and luteal) were measured. However, analyses were conducted using only follicular and luteal phase data. The ovulatory phase was excluded from the analysis due to its short duration and difficulty in measurement. Parameters such as sleep quality, fatigue, stress, and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) were assessed using the Illinois Agility Test (IAT) and the Hooper Questionnaire. Performance tests were conducted at each cycle phase, and results were compared. Statistical analysis was performed using repeated-measures ANOVA using the SPSS software package. Sleep quality decreased from 2.3 ± 0.5 in the first week to 2.1 ± 0.9 in the fourth week, and fatigue decreased from 3.3 ± 0.6 in the first week to 2.9 ± 0.9 by the end of the fourth week (p < 0.05). Mean performance times were 17.3 ± 0.5 seconds in the luteal phase and 17.2 ± 0.5 seconds in the follicular phase, indicating that performance was higher in the follicular phase. Significant changes were also observed in stress and DOMS levels (p < 0.05). This study demonstrates that the MC phases significantly influence the performance of female boxers. Performance is particularly high in the follicular phase and low in the luteal phase. These findings suggest that training programs should be tailored to the MC phases of female athletes.

Keywords: Menstrual cycle, Sleep quality, Fatigue, Stress, Delayed onset muscle soreness, Illinois Agility Test

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