Follow me on Twitter. @RobShmerling
This past August, his enthusiasm, passion and enthusiasm had already made Fu Yuanhui the most well-liked Chinese athlete on the Olympics. After winning the bronze medal in the ladies's 100m backstroke with a private best, she almost burst with excitement: “I used to be so fast! I'm really glad! I've already… expended my initial energies. !” His interview went viral with thousands and thousands of hits worldwide.
Then she said something truly shocking: she was getting her period. Noticing that the swimmer was smiling after her relay team lost a medal, an interviewer asked if she had a stomach ache. Yuanhui replied “It's because I just had my period yesterday, so I'm still a little weak and really tired. But that's no excuse for not swimming well.”
when The New York TimesNPR and other media outlets covered the story of the Chinese swimmer who had the audacity to share that she was having her period as if it were something completely natural, specializing in the indisputable fact that she violated a cultural taboo—indeed, it's virtually unheard of for girls in China to publicly mention menstruation. But, additionally they missed the chance to counter the common misconception that menstruation affects sports performance or that it's unsafe or inappropriate to swim whilst you're in your period.
Menstruation and athletics
I remember classmates in highschool sitting outside basketball practice because they'd periods. I assumed it was simply because he wasn't feeling well. In fact, many women are told that they usually tend to get injured, less more likely to perform well, and that one of the best method to manage menstruation is to take it easy. could also be But the argument for every of them is weak.
injury
Much has been fabricated from the markedly increased incidence of ankle sprains, anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears and others – amongst female athletes in comparison with their male counterparts. It is often blamed on “hormones”. A 1989 study interviewed 84 female soccer players and located more reports of premenstrual and menstrual injuries, particularly amongst those with premenstrual symptoms (comparable to irritability or breast tenderness). discomfort). A 2007 study found that ACL injuries occur more steadily in the primary half of the menstrual cycle (within the weeks or two after menstruation). A 2009 study found that in eight healthy volunteers, hamstring flexibility increased in the midst of the menstrual cycle. This is the purpose within the cycle that estrogen levels are rising or at their highest.
It is subsequently possible that changes in women's hormones during menstruation can alter the function of bones, joints, tendons, or ligaments, and that these changes may affect performance or the likelihood of injury. Again, these studies are only observations of specific samples – they don't prove a link between menstrual cycle stages and injury. In fact, we don't know needless to say whether menstrual cycle phase really has a major effect on injury propensity. And if there's an effect, it's not clear what to do about it.
Athletic performance
Studies have found inconsistent effects of menstrual cycle effects on athletic performance. For example:
- A gaggle of swimmers found that performance worsened just before their periods and improved during menstruation.
- Cross-country skiers were at their best right after their period and after ovulation (which occurs in the midst of the menstrual cycle).
In one other study, handgrip strength and long jump distance were best during menstruation in comparison with other parts of the menstrual cycle.
A 1994 review that reviewed the available research concluded that with regards to your menstrual cycle, “…there is no significant effect for most women…medals at any stage of the menstrual cycle.” have won and set world records.”
Nevertheless, many ladies don't feel well before or during their period and it seems reasonable that this may increasingly affect athletic performance. Anyone who's in pain, drained, or can't be as sharp as usual can't perform at their highest potential. And in elite athletics (comparable to Olympic events) where the difference between a gold medal and last place generally is a second, feeling vulnerable can definitely make an enormous difference. A 2009 study concluded that taking an anti-inflammatory drug (called diclofenac, a drug just like ibuprofen) reduced menstrual cramps and improved exercise performance. In fact, some athletes attempt to avoid the issue altogether: they take contraception pills or other hormones to avoid their periods during major athletic events.
The bottom line
We don't understand much in regards to the relationship between menstruation and athletic injuries or athletic performance in women. It might be true that individual aspects including overall health, form of exercise, degree of conditioning, and dietary status are more vital than menstrual phase.
Obviously, women with premenstrual or menstrual symptoms may not feel like exercising. But there's no compelling evidence that exercise or athletic activity needs to be avoided or modified simply based on which a part of your menstrual cycle you're in. Good training can reduce the danger of injury and increase performance rather more than attempting to work around someone. Periods
Many have praised Fu Yuanhui for being so forthright about her menstrual cycle that, although she violated a long-standing taboo, she avoided the temptation guilty her period for poor performance. will also be appreciated.