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Female Athletes: Periods Mean Longer Injury Recovery
22 Dec
Summary
- Injuries during menstruation take triple the time to heal.
- Elite soccer players showed this pattern over four seasons.
- Hormonal shifts and iron loss may affect recovery.
- Adjusted training and awareness can mitigate risks.
New research indicates that female athletes face more severe sports injuries and prolonged recovery periods when injuries occur during menstruation. A study tracking elite soccer players revealed that lower limb injuries sustained during their period took three times longer to heal, despite the overall injury rate remaining consistent throughout the menstrual cycle.
Researchers suggest that hormonal fluctuations, such as decreased estrogen levels, may hinder muscle repair, increase fatigue, and disrupt sleep, all of which can exacerbate injury severity and extend recovery time. Additionally, iron loss due to bleeding might reduce endurance and further slow the healing process.
While the study highlights an association rather than direct causation, experts recommend that athletes and coaches consider integrating menstrual cycle awareness into training and health monitoring. Small adjustments like longer warm-ups or modified workloads could help reduce injury severity, supporting a growing movement toward female-specific sports science.
