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Sports Medicine - Open
Published in: Sports Medicine - Open 1/2023

Open Access 01-12-2023 | Original Research Article

Menstrual Cycle Associated Alteration of Vastus Lateralis Motor Unit Function

Authors: Jessica Piasecki, Yuxiao Guo, Eleanor J. Jones, Bethan E. Phillips, Daniel W. Stashuk, Philip J. Atherton, Mathew Piasecki

Published in: Sports Medicine - Open | Issue 1/2023

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Abstract

Background

Estrogen and progesterone are the primary female sex hormones and have net excitatory and inhibitory effects, respectively, on neuronal function. Fluctuating concentrations across the menstrual cycle has led to several lines of research in relation to neuromuscular function and performance; however evidence from animal and cell culture models has yet to be demonstrated in human motor units coupled with quantification of circulating hormones. Intramuscular electromyography was used to record motor unit potentials and corresponding motor unit potential trains from the vastus lateralis of nine eumenorrheic females during the early follicular, ovulation and mid luteal phases of the menstrual cycle, alongside assessments of neuromuscular performance. Multi-level regression models were applied to explore effects of time and of contraction level. Statistical significance was accepted as p < 0.05.

Results

Knee extensor maximum voluntary contraction, jump power, force steadiness, and balance did not differ across the menstrual phases (all p > 0.4). Firing rate of low threshold motor units (10% maximum voluntary contraction) was lower during the ovulation and mid luteal phases (β = − 0.82 Hz, p < 0.001), with no difference in motor unit potentials analysed from 25% maximum voluntary contraction contractions. Motor unit potentials were more complex during ovulation and mid luteal phase (p < 0.03), with no change in neuromuscular junction transmission instability (p > 0.3).

Conclusions

Assessments of neuromuscular performance did not differ across the menstrual cycle. The suppression of low threshold motor unit firing rate during periods of increased progesterone may suggest a potential inhibitory effect and an alteration of recruitment strategy; however this had no discernible effect on performance. These findings highlight contraction level-dependent modulation of vastus lateralis motor unit function over the eumenorrheic cycle, occurring independently of measures of performance.
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Metadata
Title
Menstrual Cycle Associated Alteration of Vastus Lateralis Motor Unit Function
Authors
Jessica Piasecki
Yuxiao Guo
Eleanor J. Jones
Bethan E. Phillips
Daniel W. Stashuk
Philip J. Atherton
Mathew Piasecki
Publication date
01-12-2023
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Sports Medicine - Open / Issue 1/2023
Print ISSN: 2199-1170
Electronic ISSN: 2198-9761
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s40798-023-00639-8

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