How your monthly cycle can damage your knees
Women are more vulnerable to sports injuries at certain stages of their monthly cycle, according to a new Canadian study.
Your knees are likely to be weaker before ovulation, raising the risk of injuries.
Scientists at the University of Calgary were looking at why women are up to eight times more likely to damage their knee ligaments than men.
Suspecting hormones could be to blame, they monitored a group of 26 women throughout their monthly menstrual cycle. At each key stage - before, during and after ovulation - the women were asked to perform sports movements such as lunges and jumps. And their knee joints were then assessed.
Loose joints can increase the risk of injury - most of the women had weaker knee joints before or during ovulation (and not after) when their oestrogen levels rise and peak. There are oestrogen receptors in the knee and the hormone is known to weaken ligaments.
Researchers believe their findings will help women avoid injury by knowing when to take particular care.
CALORIE COUNTER Which summer sport burns the most calories in half an hour? Frisbee - 89 Kayaking - 148 Rounders or Softball - 150 Tennis - 236 Beach Volleyball – 236 CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH NEWS
ARE YOU A TWITTERER? FOLLOW US HERE!
BECOME A MARIE CLAIRE FACEBOOK FAN HERE
-
Selena Gomez has re-entered the conversation about her 'Emilia Pérez' criticism -
I'd never run a marathon before - six years on, I'm one of the UK's fastest female marathoners. Here's how I train every weekSerious inspo, served.
-
There’s a big difference between sensitive and *sensitised* skin—here are four derms on the key distinctionsPlus, ways to approach both
