Could dysmenorrhea decrease strength performance when a velocity-based resistance testing is used?

Abstract

Summary Aims To analyse performance across the menstrual cycle using optimal load and a velocity-based training, and to check the impact of dysmenorrhea in this type of training. Methods Five eumenorrheic women with a normal menstrual cycle participated in four performance tests: 20-meter linear sprint, counter-movement jump, bench-press and half-squat. The tests were performed at the time of menstruation and in the luteal-phase. In addition, data of mood states, sleep quality and rate of perceived exertion in both phases were collected. To analyse dysmenorrhea, subjects fulfilled a menstrual pain questionnaire. Analysing the group as a whole, better results were only found in the repetition maximum of the half-squat in the menstruation phase. Results When analysing the group dividing it according to pain variables, the group that presented some pain variable showed worse test results in both phases with respect to the no pain group in both half-squat and bench-press. In addition, the pain group showed a lower repetition maximum in both half-squat and bench-press in the luteal-phase, whereas the no pain group presented a similar repetition maximum in both phases. There were no differences in any other tests. Menstrual pain seems to be involved in the differences obtained in the test results, since the no pain group obtained better results than the pain group in both phases, and they also maintained their values constant throughout the menstrual cycle, whereas the pain group presented a decrease in performance in the luteal-phase.