Effects of generalized fatigue induced by incremental test on gait local stability of women in the menstrual period

With the cyclical changes of the menstrual cycle, women undergo several changes, such as mood, body mass, temperature, postural control and even muscle strength. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the menstrual period, when the female hormones are lower, and changes in gait local stability after strenuous treadmill exercise. The volunteers did not use oral contraceptives. They walked on a treadmill for 4 minutes at the preferred speed, before an incremental test, followed by 4 sets of 4 minutes alternating between walking and resting after the test. After the incremental test the local stability decreased indicating a more unstable system but showing a return to the initial value in the recovery interval.