Effect of Menstrual Cycle Phase on Perceived Exertion During Aerobic Exercise in Eumenorrheic Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Abstract

Background: The rating of perceived exertion (RPE) is a readily available and practical tool widely used in exercise science to monitor exercise load, but a rigorous review of the effect of menstrual cycle (MC) phases on RPE within continuous aerobic exercise has not yet been completed.

Objective: This study investigated the effects of the MC phase on RPE during aerobic exercise.

Study design: This was a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: The search strategy was carried out using the 5 most common scientific databases. While qualitative analyses were performed in all included studies, random effects to standard mean difference were calculated and meta-analysis was performed where possible. This study addresses comparison for RPE at the beginning, middle, and end of the exercise adopting 2 mains analysis. The first adopted early cycle (first session of the cycle) as control compared with the subsequent phases, and the second adopted days 1 to 5 (early follicular) as control compared with the subsequent phases.

Results: A total of 17 studies (n = 160) were included in the qualitative synthesis. The meta-analysis showed that MC phases did not impact RPE (P > .05).

Conclusions: The current meta-analysis showed that MC does not impact RPE. Although acute RPE is not impacted by MC phases, future studies and practitioners should pay attention to the impact of RPE session by session throughout the MC.