Health News
2007-02-15
Menstrual cycle
ups the risk of injury
Women are more
likely to hurt themselves at specific times in their
menstrual cycle, according to findings from London’s
Women are more
likely to hurt themselves at specific times in their
menstrual cycle, according to findings from London’s
Portland Hospital reported by the BBC.
By surveying
1,000 osteopaths and studying 17 women with a regular
menstrual cycle, researchers found that fluctuating hormone
levels that affect the muscles and ligaments increases
a woman’s risk of injury. Results showed that
21% of female patients reported pain in days 12 to 14
of their cycle and 17% in days 24 to 26. The majority of
pain reported mid-cycle was lumbar or pelvic, compared
with lumbar or neck pain at the end of the cycle.
Midway through
the cycle, the level the hormone estrogen, which is
responsible for the strength in a woman’s muscles and
ligaments, drops dramatically. At the end of the
cycle, the hormone relaxin rises. Relaxin allows the
cervix to open, but also makes ligaments go lax.
In general, the
body’s tissues appear to be vulnerable midway through
the menstrual cycle, while the ligaments are at
greater risk at the end.
Lead researcher
Dr. Stephen Sandler told the BBC: "I had noted that,
whereas men often came to me with injuries due to sport or
overexertion, women often couldn't explain why simple
acts like reaching down to pick something up had
caused injury and pain."
Rebecca Morrison,
from the British School of Osteopathy, said that
previous studies have shown that female athletes were more
prone to injury at certain times in their cycle. "This
is significant for women everywhere who can plan their
schedules around their cycles and avoid potentially
painful injuries,” she told the BBC. (The Advocate)
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