Menstrual Cycle Dynamics and Their Influence on Physical Activity for College Going Recreational Athletes
Description
The menstrual cycle is a crucial biological rhythm typically lasting 21 to 35 days, averaging 28 days, is vital for female recreational athletes. Increasingly, women in sports are recognizing menstrual cycle impact on performance due to hormonal fluctuations. Sensitivity to these changes varies, potentially affecting exercise tolerance and energy levels during training and competition. Recognizing these dynamics is crucial to optimize athletic performance with tailored interventions, considering the menstrual cycle's impact on the female body. To evaluate the impact of the menstrual cycle on physical activity, a self-administrative questionnaire was formulated in three stages: establishing the questionnaire's scope through reviewing literature, determining questionnaire components by consulting participants and experts feedback, and verifying its content validity index (CVI) with the input of eight experts using delphi method. A final draft of 15 questions was then formulated with Scale level-CVI (S-CVI) of 0.98. All 15 questions had an item level CVI (I-CVI) of 0.87 to 1. Finally, the questionnaire was distributed to 362 female recreational athletes through online google form.The result of the study found that 28.5% reported menstrual cycle irregularity, 66.5% were educated about menstrual cycle effects on athletics, 75.3% recognized energy fluctuations, and 52.4% perceived menstrual cycle impact on physical activity. Additionally, 56.8% experienced motivation changes, 63.2% noticed strength/endurance alterations, and 68.7% were affected by menstrual discomfort. Lastly, 51.5% used psychological strategies to cope with menstrual cycle challenges during activities.The study reveals diverse experiences among female recreational athletes regarding menstrual cycle irregularity, its impact on physical activity, and recognition of energy level fluctuations. While some face irregularities, many acknowledge the menstrual cycle's influence on activity and recognize energy fluctuations across phases. These findings emphasize the necessity of tailored support and education to help athletes manage menstrual cycle-related challenges and enhance performance.