Influence of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Motor Competence

Background & Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare gross motor competence of adolescent females during different phases of the menstrual cycle (MC). Material &Methods: A sample of 20 females (mean age=16.35, SD=1.72 years) with regular MC and not using any forms of hormonal contraceptive participated in this study. Gross motor competence was tested in the menstrual phase (MP), follicular phase (FP), and luteal phase (LP) by means of the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK) and the NeuroCom balance master (NBM). A repeated measures ANOVA was applied to investigate the effect of different phases of the MC on motor competence. Result: In the LP, performance on the jumping sideways test of the KTK was significantly better compared to the FP (P=0.014). Similarly, forward lunge (FL) scores of the NBM were significantly better in the LP as compared to the FP (impact index: p=0.039, contact time: p=0.008, force impulse: p=0.018). A tendency toward shorter contact time, greater impact index and better force impulse was detected during the LP. Conclusion:The findings suggest that ovarian hormones might affect gross motor competence

Keywords:

menstrual cycle , gross motor competence , ovarian hormone