Tactical Training and the Menstrual Cycle – From the Field Experience from Naval Special Operations Training
by Ingri Pauline
TSAC Report
April 2022
Vol 63, Issue 2
This article serves to educate people about the menstrual cycle in the tactical female population. It provides a framework for how to work through the phases of menstruation to increase training response, and thus, overall success in military training.
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This article originally appeared in TSAC Report, the NSCA’s quarterly, online-only publication geared toward the training of tactical athletes, operators, and facilitators. It provides research-based articles, performance drills, and conditioning techniques for operational, tactical athletes. The TSAC Report is only available for NSCA Members. Read more articles from TSAC Report
References
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3. Charest, J, and Grandner, MA. Sleep and athletic performance: Impacts on physical performance, mental performance, injury risk and recovery, and mental health. Sleep Medicine Clinic 15(1): 41-57, 2020.
4. Herzberg, SD, Motu’apuaka, ML, Lambert, W, Fu, R, Brady, J, and Guise, JM. The effect of menstrual cycle and contraceptives on ACL injuries and laxity: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine 5(7): 2017.
5. Hooper, AE, Bryan, AD, and Eaton, M. Menstrual cycle effects on perceived exertion and pain during exercise among sedentary women. Journal of Women’s Health 20(3): 439-446, 2011.
6. Julian, R, Hecksteden, A, Fullagar, HH, and Meyer, T. The effects of menstrual cycle phase on physical performance in female soccer players. Plos One, 12(3): 2017.
7. Leeangkoonsathian, E, Pantasri, T, Chaovisitseree, S, and Morakot, N. The effect of different progestogens on sleep in postmenopausal women: A randomized trial. Gynecology Endocrinology 33(12): 933-936, 2017.
8. Máximo, MM, Silva, PS, Vieira, CS, Gonçalvez, TM, Rosa- E-Silva, JC, Candido-Dos-Reis, F, and Nogueira, AA. Low-dose progestin-releasing contraceptives are associated with a higher pain threshold in healthy women. Fertility and Sterility 104(5): 1182-1189, 2015.
9. Pallavi, LC, Souza, UJ, and Shivaprakash, G. Assessment of musculoskeletal strength and levels of fatigue during different phases of menstrual cycle in young adults. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research 11(2): CC11-CC13, 2017.
10. Papadopoulou, SK. Rehabilitation nutrition for injury recovery of athletes: The role of macronutrient intake. Nutrients 12(8): 2449, 2020.
11. Reis, E, Frick, U, and Schmidtbleicher, D. Frequency variations of strength training sessions triggered by the phases of the menstrual cycle. International Journal of Sports Medicine 16(8): 545–50, 1995.
12. Solomon, SJ, Kurzer, MS, and Calloway, DH. Menstrual cycle and basal metabolic rate in women. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 36(4): 611-616, 1982.
13. Sovijit, WN, Sovijit, WE, Pu, S, Usuda, K, Inoue, R, Watanabe, G, et al. Ovarian progesterone suppresses depression and anxietylike behaviors by increasing the Lactobacillus population of gut microbiota in ovariectomized mice. Neuroscience Research 168: 76-82, 2021.
14. Sung, E, Han, A, Hinrichs, T, Vorgerd, M, Manchado, C, and Platen, P. Effects of follicular versus luteal phase-based strength training in young women. Springerplus 3(1): 668, 2014.
15. Szayna, TS, Larson, EV, O’Mahony, A, Robson, S, Schaefer, AG, Matthews, M, et al. Considerations for integrating women into closed occupations in U.S. Special Operations Forces. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2016. Retrieved 2021 from https:// www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1058.html.
16. Wikström-Frisén, L, Boraxbekk, CJ, and Henriksson-Larsén, K. Effects on power, strength and lean body mass of menstrual/oral contraceptive cycle based resistance training. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 57(1-2): 43-52, 2017.
17. Wikstrom-Frisen, L, Boraxbekk, CJ, and Henriksson-Larsen, K. Increasing training load without risking the female athlete triad: Menstrual cycle based periodized training may be an answer? Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 57(11): 1519-1525, 2016.
Available to:
Members only
Members only
Audience:
TSAC Facilitators
TSAC Facilitators
Topics:
Exercise Science Program design Basic Pathophysiology and Science of Health Status or Condition and Disorder or Disease
Exercise Science Program design Basic Pathophysiology and Science of Health Status or Condition and Disorder or Disease
