Effects of estrogen fluctuation during the menstrual cycle on the response to stretch-shortening exercise in females

Saulė Sipavičienė, Laura Daniusevičiutė, Irina Klizienė, Sigitas Kamandulis, Albertas Skurvydas, Saulė Sipavičienė, Laura Daniusevičiutė, Irina Klizienė, Sigitas Kamandulis, Albertas Skurvydas

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate whether variation in estrogen levels during the menstrual cycle influences susceptibility to exercise-induced muscle damage after stretch-shortening cycle exercise. Physically active women (n = 18; age = 20.2 ± 1.7 yr) participated in this research. The subjects performed one session of 100 maximal drop jumps on day 1 or 2 of the follicular phase and another identical session on day 1 or 2 of the ovulatory phase; the order of the sessions was randomized. Quadriceps femoris muscle peak torque evoked by electrical stimulation and maximal voluntary contraction, muscle pain, and CK activity were measured before and at various times up to 72 h after exercise. It was found that the high estrogen level during the ovulatory phase might be related to an earlier return to baseline muscle strength after strenuous stretch-shortening cycle exercise in that phase compared with the follicular phase. The estrogen effect appears to be highly specific to the damaged site because the differences in most EIMD markers (CK, soreness, and low-frequency fatigue) between the two menstrual cycle phases were small.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Time course of changes in the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque (mean ± SD) after stretch-shortening cycle exercise. *P < 0.05—compared to initial level. #P < 0.05—between follicular phase and ovulation.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Time course of changes in torque (mean ± SD) evoked in quadriceps by 1 s trains of electrical stimulation at 20 Hz (P20) after stretch-shortening cycle exercise. *P < 0.05—compared to initial level. #P < 0.05—between follicular phase and ovulation.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Time course of changes in torque (mean ± SD) evoked in quadriceps by 1 s trains of electrical stimulation at 100 Hz (P100) after stretch-shortening cycle exercise. *P < 0.05—compared to initial level. #P < 0.05—between follicular phase and ovulation.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Time course of changes in P20/P100 (mean ± SD) after stretch-shortening cycle exercise. *P < 0.05—compared to initial level.
Figure 5
Figure 5
CK activity (mean ± SD) before (0) and 24, 48, and 72 hours after stretch-shortening cycle exercise. *P < 0.05—compared to initial level.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Muscle soreness (mean ± SD) after 24, 48, and 72 hours of stretch-shortening cycle exercise.

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Source: PubMed

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