Journal article
Eccentric Knee Extension Torque Differs Across Menstrual Cycle Phases in High-Level Female Athletes
International journal of sports physiology and performance
02/17/2026
DOI: 10.1123/ijspp.2025-0023
PMID: 41713457
Abstract
Purpose : Eccentric knee extension torque is essential to athlete performance and knee joint stability. Female athlete performance and knee injury rates differ across menstrual cycle phases. It is unknown whether female athletes’ eccentric knee extension torque differs across menstrual cycle phases. The purposes of this study were to determine whether eccentric knee extension torque differed across menstrual cycle phases in high-level female athletes and to examine the associations between sex hormones and knee torque. Methods : Twenty-one female collegiate athletes participated. Athletes’ isometric knee flexion torque, isometric knee extension torque, and eccentric knee extension torque were assessed on an isokinetic dynamometer in the early follicular phase, late follicular phase, and mid-luteal phase. Menstrual cycle phases were determined by counting menstrual cycle days, urinary ovulation test results, and serum hormone analysis. Linear mixed-effects models were used to determine whether knee torque differed across menstrual cycle phases. Pearson correlation coefficients and Spearman rank order tests were used to establish the associations between sex hormones and knee torque. Results : Eccentric knee extension torque differed across the menstrual cycle ( P = .025, N·m/kg, P = .042, N·m) and was greater in the mid-luteal phase versus the late follicular phase by 0.32 N·m/kg and 20.5 N·m. Isometric knee torque did not differ across cycle phases ( P s > .475). When controlling for body fat mass, testosterone was inversely associated with isometric knee extension torque ( r = −.509, P < .001) and eccentric knee extension torque ( r = −.315, P = .026). Conclusions : Sex hormones may exert a small effect on eccentric knee extension torque in high-level female athletes.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Eccentric Knee Extension Torque Differs Across Menstrual Cycle Phases in High-Level Female Athletes
- Creators
- Kristin A. Johnson - Colorado State UniversityBrian R. Wolf - University of Iowa Hospitals and ClinicsRichard K. Shields - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- International journal of sports physiology and performance
- DOI
- 10.1123/ijspp.2025-0023
- PMID
- 41713457
- NLM abbreviation
- Int J Sports Physiol Perform
- ISSN
- 1555-0265
- eISSN
- 1555-0273
- Publisher
- HUMAN KINETICS PUBL INC
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science at the University of IowaAmerican Physical Therapy AssociationNational Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: R49CE003095 Foundation for Physical Therapy Research (Promotion of Doctoral Studies II Scholarship)National Institutes of Health: 5R01-HD082109-03, 5R01-HD084645-12
The authors would like to thank Michael A. Petrie, DC, PhD in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science at the University of Iowa for his assistance with data analysis. A special thank you to all the female athletes who participated in this study. This work was presented in part at the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting in February 2024 in Boston, MA. This work was supported by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (grant R49CE003095) , the Foundation for Physical Therapy Research (Promotion of Doctoral Studies II Scholarship) , and the National Institutes of Health (grants 5R01-HD082109-03 and 5R01-HD084645-12) . Funding agencies had no role in the design, management, data collection, analyses, or interpretation of the data or in the writing of the manuscript or the decision to submit for publication.
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 02/17/2026
- Academic Unit
- Orthopedics and Rehabilitation; Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science; Injury Prevention Research Center
- Record Identifier
- 9985139297602771
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