Non-randomised trial, 2009
Does the menstrual cycle affect pain relief from exercise?
No, the menstrual cycle phase does not affect how much pain relief women get from exercise. Pain relief and other physical responses were similar in both the follicular and luteal phases.
What they did
20 young women performed an isometric muscle contraction (squeezing a muscle at 25% of maximum effort until fatigue) twice: once during the mid-follicular phase and once during the mid-luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. Pain perception (threshold and ratings), anxiety, blood pressure, and heart rate were measured before and after each contraction.
What they found
After the exercise, pain thresholds increased and pain ratings decreased in both menstrual cycle phases equally. Anxiety, blood pressure, and heart rate also increased similarly regardless of cycle phase.
What it means for you
The menstrual cycle phase does not change exercise-induced pain relief. However, this is a very small study with only 20 women and looked only at one specific type of pain relief, so findings may not apply to PMS symptoms or other types of pain. The study was not blinded or controlled.
20
Young women studied
25%
Maximum voluntary contraction intensity
2
Menstrual cycle phases tested
About the study
- Original title
- The role of the menstrual cycle phase in pain perception before and after an isometric fatiguing contraction
- Authors
- Hoeger Bement MK, Rasiarmos RL, DiCapo JM et al.
- Journal
- European journal of applied physiology
- Year
- 2009
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- What was tested
- Isometric muscle contraction at 25% of maximum voluntary contraction
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-0995-8
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