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Women's sport: Why we need to talk about periods, breasts and injuries (www.bbc.com)

submitted 3 weeks ago by RegularJoe@lemmy.world to c/science@lemmy.world

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Teams of scientists are researching the unique ways that elite sport affects the female body – how breasts alter the way you run, but the right sports bra could give you the edge; how the menstrual cycle could impact performance and what role period trackers could play; and why is there a higher risk of some injuries, and what can be done to avoid them?

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[–] chonglibloodsport@lemmy.world 21 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Not mentioned in the summary is joint issues. Relaxin is a hormone produced by the corpus luteum within 2 weeks of ovulation (rising even further during pregnancy). This hormone softens joints, increasing flexibility and helping to prepare for giving birth. Unfortunately it also increases the risks of joint injuries, especially for knees and ankles.

[–] medgremlin@midwest.social 8 points 2 weeks ago

There's several paragraphs about ACL injuries that does discuss the hormonal effect of estrogen. The amount of relaxin produced by the corpus luteum is fairly minimal compared to the amount produced by the placenta though.

[–] MysteriousSophon21@lemmy.world 2 points 2 weeks ago

Actually, relaxin peaks during the luteal phase (days 14-28) of the cycle, not just within 2 weeks of ovulation. Studies show ACL injuries are 2-8x more common in female athletes partly due to these hormonal flucuations. Some teams are now adjusting training intensity based on cycle phases to reduce injury risk.