Examining the relationship of training load and menstrual cycle on a web application-based load and recovery score: A longitudinal observational study in elite women’s soccer
A summary of the research:
This article focuses on a new way to monitor how elite female soccer players handle training and recovery, especially considering their menstrual cycle. Many current monitoring methods don't take the menstrual cycle into account, even though it could affect how athletes perform, respond to training, and recover. The study used a new web application to track a "Load and Recovery Score" (LRS) daily. This LRS combines different measures like physical performance, overall recovery, muscle stress, fatigue, mood, and sleep quality.
The researchers found a strong negative relationship between training load and a player's Load and Recovery Score (LRS). This means that when training was harder, players' recovery scores generally went down. However, the study surprisingly found no significant effect of the menstrual cycle on the LRS when considering the impact of training load. Even so, the article suggests that systematic monitoring of the menstrual cycle is still important because its regularity can indicate serious health problems. The LRS itself is presented as a valuable tool for coaches to understand how individual players react to training.
Here are three key practical takeaways from the article's findings:
Utilize a Comprehensive Recovery Monitoring Tool Like LRS: The study found a "significant negative relationship" between training load and the Load and Recovery Score (LRS), meaning higher training loads lead to lower recovery scores. The LRS, which combines various factors like physical performance, muscular stress, fatigue, mood, and sleep quality, can provide coaches with valuable insights into "whether players respond appropriately to the intended training stimuli".
Practical Application: Coaches should consider implementing or utilizing multi-factorial load and recovery monitoring tools, such as a system similar to the LRS, to track their players' daily recovery status. By observing drops in a player's LRS after a training session or game, coaches can identify if a player is not recovering adequately and adjust their training volume or intensity to prevent overreaching, overtraining, and potential injuries.
Individualized Monitoring is Crucial Due to Unique Responses: The research highlighted that "individual differences between players in LRS responses explained a large proportion of the model variance". This means that even when exposed to the "identical training conditions," players will have "varying vulnerabilities" and recover differently.
Practical Application: Coaches and administrators should embrace and foster an environment of individualized athlete monitoring and support. Recognizing that each player responds uniquely to training stimuli, coaches should use data from tools like LRS to make personalized decisions about training loads, rest periods, and recovery strategies for each athlete, rather than applying a uniform approach to the entire team.
Monitor Menstrual Cycle as a Health Indicator, Regardless of Daily Recovery Score Impact: Although the study found "no significant effect of the MC on the LRS" beyond the influence of training load, it strongly emphasizes that "consistent monitoring of the MC in athletes is strongly advised as it serves as a significant health indicator". Irregularities or absence of menstrual bleeding can signal serious health problems like the 'female athlete triad' (low energy availability, reduced bone mineral density, and menstrual irregularities), which increases susceptibility to injuries.
Practical Application: Coaches and medical staff should systematically track players' menstrual cycles, not just for performance, but primarily as a health screening tool. This proactive monitoring can help identify potential underlying health issues that might not immediately show up in daily recovery scores but could lead to long-term health problems or increased injury risk. Discussions around menstrual health should be normalized to encourage players to report irregularities, allowing for early intervention and appropriate medical support.
Authors: Stefanie L Brefin, Jan Anderegg, Claudio R Nigg, David Koschnick, Claudia Paul, and Sascha Ketelhut
You can read the entire article here.
