Study, 2016
Does balance or stability change across the menstrual cycle in active women?
Balance that involves moving (dynamic stability) was worse during the middle of the luteal phase and best during the period itself. Anxiety, spinal posture, and balance while standing still did not change across the cycle.
What they did
Thirteen physically active women aged 18 to 25, with regular menstrual cycles, were tested at different phases of their cycle. Researchers measured anxiety with a questionnaire, spinal posture and movement with a device called a Spinal Mouse, and balance with a Biodex Balance System.
What they found
There was no clear difference across cycle phases for anxiety, spinal posture, spinal mobility, or balance while standing still. There was a clear difference in balance while moving: the best scores for overall stability and side-to-side and front-to-back balance were during the period, and the worst were during the middle of the luteal phase (the second half of the cycle, before the period).
What it means for you
Active women may have a higher chance of losing their balance during the middle of the luteal phase, so paying attention to balance training at that time could help prevent injuries. The study only looked at 13 women, so larger studies are needed to confirm this.
13
Number of women studied
18-25
Age range
About the study
- Original title
- Fluctuations of state anxiety, spinal structure, and postural stabilityacross the menstrual cycle in active women
- Authors
- Özer Kaya D, Toprak Çelenay Ş
- Journal
- Turkish journal of medical sciences
- Year
- 2016
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- No treatment tested; measurements of anxiety, spinal posture, and balance were compared across cycle phases
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3906/sag-1501-13
Topics
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