Training During the Female Athlete Menstrual Cycle

08 May Training During the Female Athlete Menstrual Cycle

As much as we shy away from talking about the female athlete menstrual cycle, it is an important discussion to start having if we want to optimize their performance and ensure they feel at their best on the pitch.

Period.

See what I did there? ;-O

You see, the awkwardness surrounding this topic isn’t necessary. I understand male coaches are reluctant to bring it up, but the menstrual cycle is a natural part of female physiology – one that can impact many components of performance, such as energy, motivation, reactivity, and movement. When we look at the menstrual cycle from the perspective of it being an organic process all girls experience, then we can approach the topic from a place of great care and empathy.

The oscillation in hormones is something we need to be mindful of so we can provide our young female athletes with actionable steps to feel more balanced during their cycle.

Symptoms that arise during PMS can cause a girl to feel demotivated, fatigued, bloated, and less creative and reactive, which all can hinder her performance and increase injury risk.

To shed light on this topic in more depth, I recently collaborated with the ladies from SoccerGrlProblems to discuss how to train, nourish and recover around the four phases of the menstrual cycle so hormones can move into equilibrium and the icky symptoms can be alleviated.

Enjoy:

Training, Nutrition and Recovery During Your Menstrual Cycle