FEMALE ATHLETES ARE AT HIGHER RISK TO SUFFER ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RUPTURES DURING THE OVULATORY PHASE OF THEIR MENSTRUAL CYCLE

Authors

Lisa Marie Reitel, Technical University of Munich
Dominic Michael Rasp, Technical University of MunichFollow

Category

Injury

Document Type

Paper

Abstract

This study examined the effect of the phase of the woman’s menstrual cycle on the rate of injuries of the anterior cruciate ligament. 39 females completed a questionnaire asking for the phase of their menstrual cycle, in which their most recent anterior cruciate injury occurred. A chi-square test revealed that the phase of the menstrual cycle has a significant effect (p < 0.001) on the aforementioned injury rate. During their ovulatory phase, women are at 4.33-times higher risk of suffering an anterior cruciate ligament rupture, while all other phases of the menstrual cycle show a less than statistically expected risk of anterior cruciate injury. We hence suggest that the participation in risk related sports should be carried out with reduced intensity or adjusted training content to avoid injuries of the anterior cruciate ligament during the two days of the ovulatory phase of a woman’s menstrual cycle.

Recommended Citation

Reitel, Lisa Marie and Rasp, Dominic Michael (2024) "FEMALE ATHLETES ARE AT HIGHER RISK TO SUFFER ANTERIOR CRUCIATE LIGAMENT RUPTURES DURING THE OVULATORY PHASE OF THEIR MENSTRUAL CYCLE," ISBS Proceedings Archive: Vol. 42: Iss. 1, Article 130.
Available at: https://commons.nmu.edu/isbs/vol42/iss1/130