BACKGROUND : The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the menstrual cycle on running economy (RE). METHODS: Using a repeated-measures design, ten eumenorrheic, trained female runners (age: 32 +/- 6 yrs, (V)over dotO(2max): 59.7 +/- 4.7 mL.kg(-1).min(-1)) completed four, weekly, identical sub-maximal and maximal incremental step tests on a treadmill to measure physiological responses across a full menstrual cycle. For phase comparison, the results from the trials that fell in the early follicular (low estrogen, low progesterone), late follicular (high estrogen, low progesterone) and mid-luteal (high estrogen, high progesterone) phases were used.
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