How the menstrual cycle and menstruation affect sporting performance: experiences and perceptions of elite female rugby players
| Autor: | Laura J. Forrest, Rebekka J Findlay, Chris Easton, Eilidh Macrae, Ian Whyte |
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| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
Adult
Competitive Behavior media_common.quotation_subject Concordance Emotions Football Physical Therapy Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation Athletic Performance Young Adult 03 medical and health sciences 0302 clinical medicine Perception Distraction Activities of Daily Living Openness to experience Humans Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Menorrhagia Menstrual Cycle Menstrual cycle media_common Motivation 030219 obstetrics & reproductive medicine 030229 sport sciences General Medicine Menstruation Elite Female Thematic analysis Worry Psychology Physical Conditioning Human Clinical psychology |
| Zdroj: | British Journal of Sports Medicine. 54:1108-1113 |
| ISSN: | 1473-0480 0306-3674 |
| Popis: | ObjectivesTo explore athletes’ past and current experiences and perceptions of the menstrual cycle in relation to its impact on sporting performance.Methods15 international female rugby players participated in individual semi-structured interviews (age: 24.5±6.2 years). All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim, resulting in 37 376 words of text for descriptive and thematic analysis. Inter-rater reliability checks resulted in a concordance of agreement of 83%.ResultsAlmost all athletes (93%) reported menstrual cycle-related symptoms. Thirty-three per cent perceived heavy menstrual bleeding and 67% considered these symptoms impaired their performances. Two-thirds of athletes self-medicated to alleviate symptoms. Thematic analysis generated 262 meaning units, 38 themes, 10 categories and 4 general dimensions. The four general dimensions were: (1) symptoms: physiological and psychological menstrual cycle-related symptoms such as dysmenorrhoea, flooding, reduced energy levels, worry, distraction, fluctuating emotions and reduced motivation; (2) impact: perceived impact of menstruation on different aspects of daily lives and performance including negative and neutral responses; (3) resolution: the methods/approaches in dealing with menstruation-related concerns including accepting, or adapting and managing symptoms with self-medication or expert treatment; (4) support: available support and comfortability in discussing menstrual cycle-related issues.ConclusionsThis study provides the first in-depth insight into athlete’s experiences of the menstrual cycle and perceived impact on training and competition. It highlights individual responses to menstrual ‘issues’ and emphasises the need for clinicians and support staff to undertake menstrual cycle profiling, monitoring and continue to develop awareness, openness, knowledge and understanding of the menstrual cycle. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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