The Influence of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Recovery Measures and Performance: A Case Study From Ski Jumping.
Asp EE, Elfmark OA, Noordhof DA. · International journal of sports physiology and performance · 2026
Athletes are advised to take an individualized approach when adjusting training and recovery to their menstrual cycle (MC), due to potential variation in the effect of the MC on training, recovery, and performance.
Purpose: To investigate the effect of MC phase, defined based on literature and symptom occurrence/severity, on recovery measures and performance in an elite female ski jumper.
Methods: A world-class female ski jumper collected data on her MC, MC-related symptoms, recovery measures (resting heart rate and heart rate variability), and performance. The MC was divided into menstrual bleeding (MB), days 1 to 5; premenstruation (PM), 1 to 4 days before the start of the next MC; and mid-phase (MP), the remaining days. Ski jumping
Results: were recalculated to adjust for wind points and take-off speed to get a physical performance score (Spp). Data are reported as median (interquartile range).
Results MC length was 24 days (20-26), and symptom severity of depressive and physical symptoms was highest during the last 2 days of the cycle. Resting heart rate was 45 (43-47) beats/min in MB, 47 (45-48) beats/min in MP, and 48 (45-49) beats/min in PM. Heart rate variability was 78 (67-82) ms in MB, 70 (65-76) ms in MP, and 74 (67-85) ms in PM. Performance data in normal hill and large hill followed somewhat opposite patterns, with a potentially better performance in normal hill and worse in large hill during PM.
Conclusion: Recovery measures and performance in individual athletes can be influenced by MC phase, with these seemingly being most influenced by cycle-related symptoms.