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Modena R, Bisagno E, Schena F, Carazzato S, Vitali F. How Do Elite Female Athletes Cope with Symptoms of Their Premenstrual Period? A Study on Rugby Union and Football Players' Perceived Physical Ability and Well-Being. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:11168. [PMID: 36141440 PMCID: PMC9517454 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Women's participation in sports has recently grown worldwide, including in sports typically associated with men (e.g., rugby and football). Similarly, literature on female athletes has increased, but how they cope with premenstrual (PM) physical and affective symptoms remains a poorly studied topic. Our study aimed to explain which coping strategies elite female rugby and football players use during their PM period to maintain perceived physical ability (PPA) and well-being. A mediation model analysis considering coping strategies (i.e., avoiding harm, awareness and acceptance, adjusting energy, self-care, and communicating) as independent variables, PPA and well-being as dependent variables, and PM physical and affective symptoms and PM cognitive resources as mediators was run on the data collected via an anonymous online survey. A dysfunctional impact of avoiding harm (indirect) and adjusting energy (both direct and indirect) and a functional indirect influence of awareness and acceptance, self-care, and communicating as coping strategies were found on PPA and well-being during the PM period. As predicted, PM physical and affective symptoms as mediators reduced PPA and well-being, while PM cognitive resources enhanced them. These results may inform practitioners on how to support elite female athletes' PPA and well-being by knowing and reinforcing the most functional PM coping strategies for them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Modena
- CeRiSM Research Center Sport Mountain and Health, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy
- Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Care, Molde University College, 6410 Molde, Norway
| | - Elisa Bisagno
- Department of Law, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 42121 Modena, Italy
| | - Federico Schena
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37131 Verona, Italy
| | - Simone Carazzato
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37131 Verona, Italy
| | - Francesca Vitali
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Section of Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37131 Verona, Italy
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2
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İnal Ö, Keklicek H, Karahan M, Uluçam E. Postural stability and flexibility responses of yoga training in women: Are improvements similar in both sexes? Health Care Women Int 2022; 44:718-733. [PMID: 35797446 DOI: 10.1080/07399332.2022.2061971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The researchers' aim is to examine the postural stability and flexibility responses of yoga training in women. The authors conducted the yoga training program 2 days a week and they assessed flexibility using the sit and reach test, trunk hyperextension test and trunk lateral flexion test. The researchers measured static and dynamic balance employing the device and database system. Then, the authors repeated all assesments were at the end of the first, the fifth and the tenth sessions. As a result of this study, the researchers revealed that the male participants had significantly poorer results in a single parameter (longitudinal sway) when compared with the female group, but the groups were statistically equivalent in this parameter after the first yoga training session. The authors also revealed that yoga was effective in improving flexibility among healthy young adults of both sexes, although the males showed greater improvement than females in the flexibility results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Özgü İnal
- Faculty of Gülhane Health Science, Department of Occupational Therapy, Health Science University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Hilal Keklicek
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey
| | - Menekşe Karahan
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Kırklareli University, Kırklareli, Turkey
| | - Enis Uluçam
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, Trakya University, Edirne, Turkey
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3
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Bassett AJ, Ahlmen A, Rosendorf JM, Romeo AA, Erickson BJ, Bishop ME. The Biology of Sex and Sport. JBJS Rev 2021; 8:e0140. [PMID: 32224635 DOI: 10.2106/jbjs.rvw.19.00140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Sex and gender are not the same. Sex is defined by the human genotype and pertains to biologic differences between males and females. Gender is a fluid concept molded by self-perception, social constructs, and culturally laden attitudes and expectations of men and women.
In general, males have longer limb levers, stronger bones, greater muscle mass and strength, and greater aerobic capacity. Females exhibit less muscle fatigability and faster recovery during endurance exercise. Physiologic sex-based differences have led to an average performance gap of 10% that has remained stable since the 1980s. The performance disparity is lowest for swimming and highest for track and field events. The International Olympic Committee currently mandates that female athletes with differences of sex development, or intersex traits, and transgender female athletes must limit their blood testosterone to <10 nmol/L for 12 months to be eligible for competition in the female classification.
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Prado RCR, Silveira R, Kilpatrick MW, Pires FO, Asano RY. The effect of menstrual cycle and exercise intensity on psychological and physiological responses in healthy eumenorrheic women. Physiol Behav 2021; 232:113290. [PMID: 33333131 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Psychological responses such as affect, mood, motivation, anxiety are important considerations for exercise adherence. A large body of evidence indicates that exercise intensity is a controllable variable capable of increasing positive feelings. Investigations thus far, however, have not considered that the higher incidence of negative psychological responses in women could be due to physiological particularities of the menstrual cycle (MC). This project investigates the effect of MC phases and exercise intensity on psychophysiological responses in fourteen healthy, eumenorrheic and physically active women. Measuring psychophysiological responses before, during and after exercise, participants completed two exercise bouts of 15 min above and below the anaerobic threshold in the follicular phase (FP) and the luteal phase (LP) of the MC. Lower levels of depression and hostility and higher levels of vigor, affect and motivation were observed during exercise in the FP. Exercise at moderate intensity elicited more positive psychological responses compared to high-intensity exercise, highlighted by findings that affect and rating of perceived exertion were worse in the LP without changes in physiological responses. These findings suggest no effect of MC on physiological responses, but psychological responses are impaired in the LP, worsening particularly during exercise at high intensity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raul Cosme Ramos Prado
- Exercise Psychophysiology Research Group, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo. São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Rodrigo Silveira
- School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcus W Kilpatrick
- College of Education - University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, United States of America
| | - Flávio Oliveira Pires
- Exercise Psychophysiology Research Group, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo. São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Yukio Asano
- Exercise Psychophysiology Research Group, School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo. São Paulo, Brazil
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5
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Cardoso de Araújo M, Baumgart C, Jansen CT, Freiwald J, Hoppe MW. Sex Differences in Physical Capacities of German Bundesliga Soccer Players. J Strength Cond Res 2021; 34:2329-2337. [PMID: 29927885 DOI: 10.1519/jsc.0000000000002662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Cardoso de Araújo, M, Baumgart, C, Jansen, CT, Freiwald, J, and Hoppe, MW. Sex differences in physical capacities of German Bundesliga soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 34(8): 2329-2337, 2020-Sex differences in physical capacities of elite soccer players have received limited attention. Therefore, this study investigated sex differences in linear and nonlinear sprint, squat and countermovement jump, core endurance, as well as incremental and intermittent endurance capacities in German Bundesliga soccer players. A total of 76 field players (29 women) were tested for the mentioned anaerobic- and aerobic-related physical capacities in a noninterventional cross-sectional design. The largest sex differences were evident in the explosive- and intermittent endurance-related capacities, with women presenting largely to extremely largely lower values in sprints, jumps, and intermittent endurance (effect size [ES] ≥1.77, p < 0.01). The differences in the total core endurance, running velocity at 2 and 4 mmol·L capillary blood lactate (v2 and v4), maximal heart rate (HR) (ES ≤ 0.72, p ≥ 0.06), and distance covered during the incremental endurance test (ES = 1.09, p = 0.01) were trivially to moderately lower for women. However, women had small to moderately higher ventral and dorsal core endurance (ES ≤ 0.69, p ≥ 0.07) and largely higher relative HR at the lactate thresholds (ES ≥ 1.54, p < 0.01). The individual data of female players showed more variability. Some individual data of women overlapped those of men, most evident in the total core endurance and v2. The findings indicate that there are sex differences in physical capacities according to the underlying amount of anaerobic and aerobic energy supply. The sex specificities should be considered to optimize training and testing procedures for soccer players.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christian Baumgart
- Department of Movement and Training Science, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany; and
| | - Christian T Jansen
- Department of Movement and Training Science, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany; and
| | - Jürgen Freiwald
- Department of Movement and Training Science, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany; and
| | - Matthias W Hoppe
- Department of Movement and Training Science, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany; and.,Department of Orthopedic, Trauma, and Hand Surgery, Klinikum Osnabrück GmbH, Osnabrück, Germany
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6
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Bassareo PP, Crisafulli A. Gender Differences in Hemodynamic Regulation and Cardiovascular Adaptations to Dynamic Exercise. Curr Cardiol Rev 2020; 16:65-72. [PMID: 30907327 PMCID: PMC7393595 DOI: 10.2174/1573403x15666190321141856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Exercise is a major challenge for cardiovascular apparatus since it recruits chronotropic, inotropic, pre-load, and afterload reserves. Regular physical training induces several physiological adaptations leading to an increase in both cardiac volume and mass. It appears that several gender-related physiological and morphological differences exist in the cardiovascular adjustments and adaptations to dynamic exercise in humans. In this respect, gender may be important in determining these adjustments and adaptations to dynamic exercise due to genetic, endocrine, and body composition differences between sexes. Females seem to have a reduced vasoconstriction and a lower vascular resistance in comparison to males, especially after exercise. Significant differences exist also in the cardiovascular adaptations to physical training, with trained women showing smaller cardiac volume and wall thickness compared with male athletes. In this review, we summarize these differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pier P Bassareo
- University College of Dublin, Mater Misericordiae University Teaching Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Antonio Crisafulli
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, Sports Physiology Lab., University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
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Boccia G, Dardanello D, Tarperi C, Festa L, La Torre A, Pellegrini B, Schena F, Rainoldi A. Women show similar central and peripheral fatigue to men after half-marathon. Eur J Sport Sci 2018; 18:695-704. [PMID: 29490592 DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2018.1442500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Women are known to be less fatigable than men in single-joint exercises, but fatigue induced by running has not been well understood. Here we investigated sex differences in central and peripheral fatigue and in rate of force development (RFD) in the knee extensors after a half-marathon run. Ten male and eight female amateur runners (aged 25-50 years) were evaluated before and immediately after a half-marathon race. Knee extensors forces were obtained under voluntary and electrically evoked isometric contractions. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) force and peak RFD were recorded. Electrically doublet stimuli were delivered during the MVC and at rest to calculate the level of voluntary activation and the resting doublet twitch. After the race, decreases in MVC force (males: -11%, effect size [ES] 0.52; females: -11% ES 0.33), voluntary activation (males: -6%, ES 0.87; females: -4%, ES 0.72), and resting doublet twitch (males: -6%, ES 0.34; females: -8%, ES 0.30) were found to be similar between males and females. The decrease in peak RFD was found to be similar between males and females (males: -14%, ES 0.43; females: -15%, ES 0.14). Half-marathon run induced both central and peripheral fatigue, without any difference between men and women. The maximal and explosive strength loss was found similar between sexes. Together, these findings do not support the need of sex-specific training interventions to increase the tolerance to neuromuscular fatigue in half-marathoners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gennaro Boccia
- a NeuroMuscularFunction Research Group, School of Exercise & Sport Sciences,Department of Medical Sciences , University of Turin , Turin , Italy.,b CeRiSM Research Center for Sport, Mountain, and Health , Rovereto , Italy
| | - Davide Dardanello
- a NeuroMuscularFunction Research Group, School of Exercise & Sport Sciences,Department of Medical Sciences , University of Turin , Turin , Italy
| | - Cantor Tarperi
- c Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences , School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Verona , Verona , Italy
| | - Luca Festa
- c Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences , School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Verona , Verona , Italy
| | - Antonio La Torre
- d Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milan , Italy
| | - Barbara Pellegrini
- b CeRiSM Research Center for Sport, Mountain, and Health , Rovereto , Italy.,c Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences , School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Verona , Verona , Italy
| | - Federico Schena
- b CeRiSM Research Center for Sport, Mountain, and Health , Rovereto , Italy.,c Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences , School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Verona , Verona , Italy
| | - Alberto Rainoldi
- a NeuroMuscularFunction Research Group, School of Exercise & Sport Sciences,Department of Medical Sciences , University of Turin , Turin , Italy
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Magnani S, Mulliri G, Sainas G, Ghiani G, Pinna V, Sanna I, Crisafulli A, Tocco F. Occurrence of cardiac output decrease (via stroke volume) is more pronounced in women than in men during prolonged dry static apnea. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2018; 124:349-355. [DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00991.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Little is known about sex differences in autonomic cardiovascular regulation of the diving response, and the few available studies of these differences were conducted on subjects with limited or no diving experience. We examined the influence of sex on hemodynamics during dry static apnea (SA) in eight male and eight female elite divers matched for their breath hold (BH) ability. Hemodynamics was assessed by means of simultaneous echocardiography and impedance cardiography measurements, and arterial pressure and oxygen saturation ([Formula: see text]) were also collected. In the first quarter (AP25%) and half (AP50%) of apnea duration cardiac output (CO) showed a more rapid and intense decrease in women than in men (−43% vs. −17% during AP25% and −40% vs. −19% during AP50%, respectively, P < 0.05). At the same time points, systemic vascular resistance (SVR) increased more in women than in men (+22% vs. +100% at AP25% and +48% vs. +107% at AP50%, respectively, P < 0.05). [Formula: see text] progressively declined in both groups, but men showed a more pronounced decrease than women at the end of apneas (−13% vs. −5%, respectively, P < 0.05). In men the higher the body surface area values the longer the apnea, while in women the higher the SVR response the longer the apnea. In elite female divers, the magnitude of CO decrease during dry SA was larger than in male divers. The capacities to store oxygen and to reduce O2 consumption play a pivotal role in BH performance, but their extent seems to be different in the sexes. NEW & NOTEWORTHY This is the first study in which the influence of sex on hemodynamics during dry static apnea has been investigated in two groups of elite divers matched for their breath hold ability. We also show the correlation between the performances obtained by divers during a real competition and their anthropometric, respiratory, and cardiovascular characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Magnani
- Sport Physiology Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, School of Sport Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Gabriele Mulliri
- Sport Physiology Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, School of Sport Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Sainas
- Sport Physiology Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, School of Sport Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giovanna Ghiani
- Sport Physiology Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, School of Sport Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Virginia Pinna
- Sport Physiology Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, School of Sport Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Irene Sanna
- Sport Physiology Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, School of Sport Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Antonio Crisafulli
- Sport Physiology Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, School of Sport Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Filippo Tocco
- Sport Physiology Laboratory, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, School of Sport Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
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Feriani DJ, Coelho HJ, Scapini KB, de Moraes OA, Mostarda C, Ruberti OM, Uchida MC, Caperuto ÉC, Irigoyen MC, Rodrigues B. Effects of inspiratory muscle exercise in the pulmonary function, autonomic modulation, and hemodynamic variables in older women with metabolic syndrome. J Exerc Rehabil 2017; 13:218-226. [PMID: 28503537 PMCID: PMC5412498 DOI: 10.12965/jer.1734896.448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2017] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of inspiratory muscle exercise (IME) on metabolic and hemodynamic parameters, cardiac autonomic modulation and respiratory function of older women with metabolic syndrome (MS). For this, sixteen older women with MS and 12 aged-matched controls participated of the present study. Two days before and 2 days after the main experiment, fasting blood samples (i.e., total cholesterol, triglycerides and blood glucose), cardiac autonomic modulation (i.e., heart rate variability), and respiratory muscle function were obtained and evaluated. The sessions of physical exercise was based on a IME, which was performed during 7 days. Each session of IME was performed during 20 min, at 30% of maximal static inspiratory pressure. In the results, MS group presented higher levels of triglycerides, blood glucose, and systolic blood pressure when compared to control group. IME was not able to change these variables. However, although MS group showed impaired respiratory muscle strength and function, as well as cardiac autonomic modulation, IME was able to improve these parameters. Thus, the data showed that seven days of IME are capable to improve respiratory function and cardiac autonomic modulation of older women with MS. These results indicate that IME can be a profitable therapy to counteracting the clinical markers of MS, once repeated sessions of acute IME can cause chronical alterations on respiratory function and cardiac autonomic modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Jardim Feriani
- Faculty of Physical Education, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil.,Human Movement Laboratory, Sao Judas Tadeu University (USJT), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Hélio José Coelho
- Faculty of Physical Education, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | - Kátia Bilhar Scapini
- Hypertension Unit, Heart Institute (InCor), Medical School of University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Marco Carlos Uchida
- Faculty of Physical Education, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
| | | | - Maria Cláudia Irigoyen
- Hypertension Unit, Heart Institute (InCor), Medical School of University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bruno Rodrigues
- Faculty of Physical Education, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, Brazil
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10
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Limonta E, Cavagna M, Venturelli M, Cè E, Esposito F. Heart rate response to different training phases in young female acrosport athletes. SPORT SCIENCES FOR HEALTH 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s11332-015-0249-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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