The development of oral contraceptive
pills (OCPs) is often credited with ushering in the "free
love" era of the 1960s. While sexually transmitted diseases
have long since banished such a carefree attitude towards
sex, a newly discovered side bene- fit of the pill may
promote a happy-go-lucky outlook on a different kind of
playing field. According to a study conducted at the department
of sports medicine at McGill University, regular OCP use
leads to stronger ligaments in the knee, which may prevent
knee injuries that plague female athletes in particular.
HORMONAL
CAUSE?
Women are up to eight times more likely to sustain serious
knee injuries than men. Damage to the anterior cruciate
ligament (ACL), in particular, is often irreparable
and has been responsible for ending the careers of male
and female athletes alike. The reasons for the higher
incidence of ligamentous damage in women are largely
unknown, but one theory suggests hormonal differences
between the sexes may contribute. In support of this,
estrogen and progesterone receptors have been found
on human ACL fibroblasts. As a result "The OCP may have
a role to play in the prevention of ACL injuries by
prophylactically targeting one of the variables responsible
for the increased ACL injury rates in women," pointed
out Dr Paul Martineau, lead author of the McGill study.
He set out to test this theory
by thoroughly examining the supple yet delicate knees
of 127 female varsity athletes at McGill. Of the athletes,
42 were OCP users, 36 were non-users and 44 met the
exclusion criteria. Dr Martineau and colleagues assessed
anterior translation of the knee, a motion that's resisted
specifically by the ACL. This is a common test to gauge
damage to the ACL. It involves applying a specific,
anterior force to the tibia from behind the knee, and
measures the tibial-femoral displacement.
The results published in the September
issue of the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine
showed that those who weren't on the pill had significantly
greater anterior translation compared to their sporty
sisters who were taking OCPs. This suggested that the
pill strengthens this ligament. As a result, Dr Martineau's
research may point to OCP use as a novel preventative
measure for knee injury in female athletes.
|
