Pain perception of professional volleyball players during different phases of menstruation

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate pain perception of the professional volleyball players at rest and maximal cardiovascular stresses during different phases of menstruation. Thirteen volleyball players from Celal Bayar University were used as the participants of the study. At rest, anthropometric measurements, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were determined. Then, pain tolerance and pain threshold were measured by sphygmomanometer that placed upper part of the arm. Visual Analog Scales (VAS) was used to grade the pain. At the 2nd (menstrual phase) and 14th (ovulation phase) days of menstruation, oxygen consumption (VO2), heart rate (KA), blood lactate (KL) pain perception and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were taken during two incremental maximal exercises testing. Statistical analysis of this study indicated that at rest pain tolerance and threshold values of the volleyball players were significantly higher during menstruation phase compare to ovulation phase. Also, VO2 and KL measurements taken at the high intensities during 2nd day of mensturation were statistically higher than that of measurements were done at 14th day of mensturation. Moreover, pain perception of the participants that was measured during 2nd day of menstruation was significantly lower than that of measurements during the 14th days of menstruation (p<0.05). According to results of regression analysis, RPE and KL were two dependent variables that were statistically related to pain perception during two different phases of menstruation. As a conclusion due to the decrease in pain perception, the intensity of the training could be increase during menstruation period.