Why it matters
There is a multitude of wearable devices in the market for people to track some aspect of their health and for athletes to track their performance. Some of these devices are employed by elite athletes, but the data is mostly based on male parameters. What about female athletes and how their menstrual cycles affect their training routines and sports performance? This research addresses the need of female athletes to modify their training regimen in accordance with the specific phase of their cycle. This project has a direct connection with supporting female elite athletes in understanding their performance and improving their training regime towards the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics. Of the 10,500 athletes who will line up to compete at the Paris Olympics, the International Olympic Committee predicts the gender split will be even. It will be the first time in Olympic history the Games reaches full gender parity among competing athletes. The project is therefore particularly timely and aligns with the Brisbane 2032 mission to create equal and accessible games.
Project Overview
The project is about identifying female athletes’ requirements and technology specifications for the design of a wearable device to track the effects of their menstruation cycle in relation to their sports performance and to provide a tool to inform their decision making for training purposes.
Wearable sensors can be used to monitor the physiological and biochemical profile of athletes, and a combination of several wearables can be more effective for accessing all relevant parameters. Despite multiple studies demonstrate the potential utility of wearable sensors in monitoring athletes, there is limited research on the effects of menstrual cycle phases on elite athlete performance [3] and in relation to how they modify their training regimen. The practical application of such knowledge to the diversity of individual situations and cycles seems elusive.
This project will investigate the design requirements to apply sensor technology in body-worn devices (wearables) for the specific needs of female elite athletes, by considering the physiological and psychological aspects of athletes, and by acknowledging the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the menstrual cycle. Our investigation involving market and end-user investigation will be furthered by a proof-of-concept prototyping to test emerging design requirements. The project will involve the broader sporting community of Australian female athletes through collaboration with QUT Sports and national sports organisations.
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Funding / Grants
This project is supported by a seed grant funded by QUT Brisbane Olympics & Paralympics coordination group.
Project Team
- Prof Marianella Chamorro-Koc
- Prof Gene Moyle
- A/Prof Ajay Pandey
- Mathilde Deselle
- Saffron Lloyd
- Jacinta Nicholas
