The influence on menstrual cycle phases on trunk flexion mobility assessed with finger floor distance test: a preliminary study

Background: The menstrual cycle plays an important role in a woman's body and the relationship between different phases of the menstrual cycle and flexibility has not been well known. Aim of the study: This study aimed to examine whether the different phases of the menstrual cycle could affect trunk flexion mobility in young, healthy, physically active women who had not used hormonal contraception and had not received hormone treatment. Material and methods: In total, ten healthy female nulliparas aged 25 - 30 participated in the study. The inclusion criterion for the study was regular menstruation (25 - 35 cycle days). The exclusion criteria were: hormonal treatment, use of hormonal contraception, BMI > 25, and history of pregnancy. To assess trunk flexion mobility the finger floor distance test was used. The test was performed on each participant three times: during menstruation (follicular phase), during ovulation (ovulatory phase), and after day 15 of the cycle (luteal phase). Friedman ANOVA was used to determine the effect of the menstrual cycle phases on the finger floor distance test results. It was followed by Wilcoxon signed rank test. Results: There was a significant effect of the phases of the menstrual cycle on the results of the finger floor distance test (p = 0.03). Significantly higher values for the finger floor distance test result in the follicular phase as compared to the ovulatory phase were found (p = 0.02). Conclusions: The comparison of finger floor distance test results obtained in young healthy nulliparas in three phases of the menstrual cycle indicates decreased trunk flexion mobility in the follicular phase.