Actimet launch one of a kind menstrual cycle tracking component

Galway company Actimet have launched a unique menstrual cycle tracking component which allows a private and secure connection between female athlete and coach. The Menstrual Cycle has a huge influence on training and performance in sport which is why they feel openness and understanding across coaching and athlete teams will hugely benefit everyone.

Actimet is a platform that allows athletes share subjective information on wellness and training, and now MCT too, with their coaching team, helping the coaches better understand the impact training is having on an athlete as well as providing insight into what may be happening off the pitch that a coaching team or club can help with. The athlete uses a mobile app, designed to be quick and easy, while coaches access a coach portal via the Actimet website which requires no configuration or complex set up.

Actimet is currently being used at club and county level in Camogie and Ladies Football and by rowing, athletics, rugby, basketball and soccer teams across the country. It’s also been used in secondary schools and universities.

The ‘Actimet MCT’ is unique from all other platforms in how it presents a dashboard timeline on where each team member is with regard to their cycle, splitting it into seven different phases from early follicular to late luteal. It also allows athletes to share any symptoms they may have which can impact their ability to perform.

What also sets Actimet apart is that it provides guidance for coaches on how different training types may impact athletes depending on their phase position and symptoms. It also provides education on the different physiological and psychological changes that may occur at each phase. While on the mobile app it provides insights into hormonal, nutritional and training research for the athlete.

Actimet’s aim is to increase understanding and awareness on the menstrual cycle in sport and help coaches and athletes feel comfortable conversing on the matter in order to improve their playing and coaching experience. The company have partnered up with Dr. Cathriona Cormican (Galway Camogie) Dr. Noelle Healy (Dublin LGFA) and Jenny Murphy (Ireland Rugby) to try to spread awareness and get sports people talking about MCT.

“Actimet have always focused on improving feedback and communication between players and coaches to allow management to manage physical and emotional load or pressures. To see them recognising and responding to the additional physical needs of females at different stages of their cycle is brilliant and will only help improve the conversation around the menstrual cycle and its effect on female athletes and most importantly, allow coaches to get the most out of their athletes”, said Dr. Noelle Healy.

The Actimet team worked with Sinead Bradbury who delivered her masters thesis on the subject (Female GAA Athletes’ Perceptions and Experiences of Menstruation During Training and Competition) to design the MCT component. Sinead carried out research with 150 Senior intercounty LGFA and Camogie players to understand the knowledge and impact of the menstrual cycle as well as different strategies used to manage and fears involved.

Actimet also has the potential to use its data to help understand any correlation between wellness, menstrual cycle, stress/sleep & injury and performance. Feedback from coaches and athlete who have piloted the system over the last few months has been extremely positive. Athletes are finding solace in the fact that they can easily share their readiness to play or train while coaches are feeling empowered and more comfortable approaching the subject, which also allows them to alter training to suit, giving each member of their team the feeling of individual attention.    

Actimet was founded by Rory McGauran, famed Polish S&C coach Lukasz Kirszenstein and South African tech entrepreneur Edward Kaschula in 2019 and is now being used across multiple sports in 10 different countries across Europe as well as in the USA, Australia, Nigeria and South Africa.

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