The clinical value of Clearplan home ovulation detection kits in infertility practice

Changes in Knee Vastii Muscle Activity in Women with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome During the Menstrual Cycle

BACKGROUND

Changes in hormonal levels during the menstrual cycle are known to affect muscle electromyographic (EMG) activity, but no studies have investigated the effect of hormonal changes on the EMG activity of muscles around the knee in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS).

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the EMG activity of the vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles during toe rise and heel rock tasks in different phases of the menstrual cycle in women with PFPS.

DESIGN

Cross sectional study.

SETTING

Rehabilitation Research Center at the School of Rehabilitation Sciences of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences.

PARTICIPANTS

Ten women with PFPS between 18 and 40 years of age.

INTERVENTION

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The VL/VMO amplitude ratio and differences between onset (onset VL-onset VMO) of vastii muscle activity were measured in the affected limb during rise and rock tasks in the follicular and ovulatory phases of the menstrual cycle. The signals were analyzed with MATLAB software.

RESULTS

During both tasks, there were no significant changes in onset differences in vastii muscles between the ovulatory and follicular phases. However, the amplitude ratio (VL/VMO) was significantly lower in the ovulatory phase compared to the follicular phase (P = .035 for rise tasks and .010 for rock tasks).

CONCLUSION

The menstrual cycle may affect some EMG parameters. These factors can be taken into account when planning sports and rehabilitation training programs.

Ambulatory blood pressure, heart rate, and neuroendocrine responses in women nurses during work and off work days

OBJECTIVE

This study examined women's cardiovascular and neuroendocrine responsiveness to work.

METHODS

Ambulatory blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded over 24-hour periods on 2 work and 2 off days during the luteal and follicular phases of the menstrual cycle in 138 registered nurses, aged 25 to 50 years. Urinary catecholamines and cortisol were measured for day and night periods.

RESULTS

During waking hours systolic BP (SBP), HR, and epinephrine were higher on work than off days. Diastolic BP (DBP) and HR were highest at work. Nurses scoring high on job demands had elevations in daytime SBP, daytime HR only on work days, and nighttime epinephrine on work days. Compared with those with short work histories, nurses employed longer had consistently higher norepinephrine levels during days and nights, and higher nighttime DBP during off days. In unmarried nurses compared with married nurses, nighttime cortisol was lower during all 4 days and norepinephrine was lower during days off. All findings were independent of actigraph-recorded activity.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the work environment leads to increased activity of the cardiovascular and sympathoadrenal medullary system in healthy women, the effects are modified by the woman's domestic role, by the length of her employment, and by the demands of her job.