The physical abilities of women practicing sports largely depend on which phase of the menstrual cycle they are in. Many studies show that, compared to men, they are more prone to knee injuries, especially to the anterior cruciate ligament injuries and chronic pain.
Research conducted in the United States shows that not only biomechanical differences between sexes (such as muscle distribution or center of gravity) play an important role here, but also changes in the activity of nerve fibers that control muscle work, informs the EurekAlert website.
A team of researchers from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill measured the activity of nerve fibers and the muscles they control in women aged 19-35 at various times in the menstrual cycle. It turned out that due to the change in hormone levels, this activity was much higher in the late luteal phase (about a week before the onset of menstruation) than in the earlier phases of the cycle.
According to the researchers, this may explain the greater susceptibility of joints to damage. Further research focusing on the female neuroendocrine system may help develop new methods of preventing injury (PAP).
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