Comparison of Muscular Strength Response to Concurrent Training Across Different Phases of the Menstrual Cycle in Young Women

Sharafi, Elham; Sharafi Dehrahm, Firouz

doi:10.22034/jmbs.2025.525619.1250

Comparison of Muscular Strength Response to Concurrent Training Across Different Phases of the Menstrual Cycle in Young Women

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Elham Sharafi ¹

Firouz Sharafi Dehrahm ²

¹ Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Khorramabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khorramabad, Iran.

² Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Khorramabad Branch, Islamic Azad University, Khorramabad, Iran.

10.22034/jmbs.2025.525619.1250

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle can affect muscle performance in women. This study aimed to investigate the effects of concurrent (concurrent) training based on the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle on muscle strength in healthy young women.

Methods: This semi-experimental study was conducted on 23 healthy young women (mean age 35.17 ± 2.08 years) with regular menstrual cycles (mean cycle length 26.52 ± 1.83 days). The training program consisted of performing concurrent exercises separately in each phase, over 8 weeks, three sessions per week. To prevent interference of training effects from the follicular phase on the luteal phase results, a specific time interval was assigned for each participant.

Results: Findings showed that muscle strength significantly increased after the training period in both the follicular phase (t=24.78, P<0.001) and the luteal phase (t=24.24, P<0.001). However, the magnitude of strength improvement was greater in the follicular phase than in the luteal phase (t=4.446, P=0.040).

Conclusion: Training during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle is more effective than during the luteal phase in enhancing muscle strength in healthy young women.

Keywords

Concurrent training

Menstrual cycle

Muscle strength

Subjects