physioscience 2025; 21(S 03): S40-S41
DOI: 10.1055/s-0045-1812449
Abstracts
Poster/Posters

Female Sex Hormones and Gluteus Medius Activity: A Pilot Study of Hormonal Associations

Authors

  • T Straub

    1   ZHAW – Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Physiotherapy, School of Health Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland

  • S Friedli

    1   ZHAW – Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Physiotherapy, School of Health Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland
    2   University of Fribourg, Faculty of Science and Medicine, Fribourg, Switzerland

  • A Zind

    1   ZHAW – Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Physiotherapy, School of Health Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland

  • S Vollrath

    3   University Clinic Inselspital, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bern, Switzerland
    4   Swiss Federal Institute of Sport Magglingen (SFISM), Magglingen, Switzerland

  • N Wieloch

    5   Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, Sports Medical Research Group, Department of Orthopaedics, Zurich, Switzerland
    6   Balgrist University Hospital, University of Zurich, University Centre for Prevention and Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopaedics, Zurich, Switzerland

  • E Graf

    1   ZHAW – Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Physiotherapy, School of Health Sciences, Winterthur, Switzerland
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    Objectives Women are at increased risk of anterior cruciate ligament injury and hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle have been proposed as a potential contributing factor. However, evidence linking hormonal variation to neuromuscular control remains limited. Given the protective role of the gluteus medius in frontal plane knee stability, this pilot study aimed to investigate associations between sex hormone concentrations and gluteus medius activation and strength.

    Methods Ten eumenorrheic women (age 24.2±4.73 years, training volume 407±183.91 min/week, mass 62.99±7.93 kg, height 164.83±5.82 cm) were included in this study. Hormonal concentrations were measured via capillary blood sampling once during the menstrual, preovulatory, and ovulatory phases. Gluteus medius electromyography (sampling rate of 2000 Hz) was recorded during unilateral and bilateral drop jumps and an anticipated 45 degree cutting task. Gluteus medius peak activity, timing of peak activation, and onset were assessed. Additionally, isometric hip abductor strength was measured with the EasyForce. Linear mixed models were fitted for each outcome with luteinizing hormone, estradiol, progesterone, and training volume as fixed effects.

    Results Increasing estradiol was significantly associated with increased peak activity during bilateral drop jumps (β=0.15% MVIC per pg/ml, p=0.02), with a non-significant trend observed during the cutting task (β=0.20% MVIC per pg/ml, p=0.11). Increasing progesterone showed trends approaching significance toward delayed peak activity in the cutting task (β=2.82 ms per ng/ml, p=0.08) but earlier peak activity in the unilateral (β=-3.23 ms per ng/ml, p=0.07) and bilateral (β=-5.01 ms per ng/ml, p=0.08) drop jumps.

    Conclusion This study provides initial indication of hormone-related modulation of gluteus medius activity. To build on these exploratory findings, future research should include the luteal phase, expand to larger sample sizes and model hormonal interactions. However, implications for anterior cruciate ligament injury risk remain uncertain. Although elevated risk has been reported during the follicular and ovulatory phases, this does not clearly align with the observed neuromuscular patterns. Still, our results suggest that the menstrual cycle may affect neuromuscular assessments relevant to physiotherapy practice. Timing assessments with respect to the menstrual cycle may help distinguish actual therapeutic progress from hormone-related effects.


     

    Publication History

    Article published online:
    23 October 2025

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