---
title: Does muscle tension increase during the premenstrual phase of the cycle?
description: Yes. Women had higher muscle tension in their forehead during the premenstrual phase. Women with more forehead tension predicted they would have more premenst
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/muscle-tension-and-its-relation-to-symptoms-in-the-premenstruum-1983/
---

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- Does muscle tension increase during the premenstrual phase of the cycle?

Study, 1983

# Does muscle tension increase during the premenstrual phase of the cycle?

Yes. Women had higher muscle tension in their forehead during the premenstrual phase. Women with more forehead tension predicted they would have more premenstrual symptoms.

 Early or limited evidence

22 women with different predicted levels of premenstrual symptoms

## What they did

Muscle tension in the forehead and shoulder was measured in 22 women during two times in their cycle - just before menstruation and earlier in the cycle. Measurements were taken while the women rested and while they looked at an emotional image. Women predicted what symptoms they would have.

## What they found

Muscle tension in the forehead was higher during the premenstrual phase compared to earlier in the cycle, both while resting and while looking at an emotional image. Women who predicted they would have more premenstrual symptoms had higher forehead muscle tension during the premenstrual phase.

## What it means for you

Muscle tension might be linked to premenstrual symptoms, suggesting that learning to relax your muscles could help reduce them. The study was small with only 22 women, and mainly measured only one muscle.

22

women studied

## About the study

Original title Muscle tension and its relation to symptoms in the premenstruum Authors Coyne C Journal Research in nursing & health Year 1983 Study design Study Participants 22 What was tested Observational study measuring muscle tension; suggested that muscle relaxation training could help Read the paper [doi.org/10.1002/nur.4770060408](https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.4770060408)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)

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Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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