Hormonal Fluctuation and Ankle Instability in Women—Is There a Correlation?

This review found that during ovulation, when estrogen peaks, subjects showed impaired balance with higher postural sway rates, greater ankle joint laxity, and decreased muscle and ligamentous tone and stiffness-an indicator of laxity. An underlying hormonally mediated etiology for the increased propensity to ankle instability in the female athlete is suggested. Syncing an athlete's workout type and intensity around menstrual cycle phase may be an advantageous strategy for injury prevention.