Effects of the use of oral contraceptives on muscle strength and ligament laxity as the result of delayed onset muscle soreness in women

Abstract

Oral contraceptives users have less damage in musculoskeletal structure and recover faster compared to non-oral contraceptives users after high-induced exercise. The purpose of the present study was to examine the difference in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) laxity as the result of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) after a heavy exercise in the lower limbs in young women between oral contraceptive pill (OCP) users and non-OCP users to see if there is any difference in quadriceps strength and ACL laxity between the groups. Forty young healthy women participated in the experiments (25 subjects with a regular menstrual cycle and 15 subjects with taking OCP). Quadriceps strength was measured by customized strength device with a strain gauge transducer placed on opposite sides of a steel bar, and KT 2000 was used to measure ACL laxity. Both outcome measurements were measured before and after heavy exercise of the lower limbs. Both groups showed significant ACL laxity reduction at 2nd day-post exercise (P< 0.05). While ACL laxity was always less in the OCP group, when controlling baseline ACL laxity, the damage was similar in both groups (P> 0.05). However, the effect of OCP appears to be a general baseline shift before and after exercise similar to non-OCP users.Strength and conditioning professionals working with young female adults should recognize these physiological effects on muscle strength and ACL to provide OCP users less change to be damaged after heavy exercise. © Research India Publications.