Birth Control Good for the Knee?
November 22, 2004
(Ivanhoe Newswire)–You can now include birth control on the list of medicines with a dual purpose, according to a new study.
Researchers from McGill University in Montreal found women who take birth control are more likely to have stable knee joints and fewer injuries.
Nearly 78 female athletes were studied, 42 of whom were on the pill. Researchers then measured knee displacement or knee laxity of participants with a special instrument known as an athrometer.
Results show women taking birth control had significantly tighter knee joints than those who were not taking the pill. The findings suggest these women may be less susceptible to ligament tears or injuries.
These findings are of special value to female athletes, who are up to eight-times more likely than men to suffer a serious knee injury. Approximately 30,000 female athletes will suffer a knee injury during their careers.
SOURCE:Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, 2004;14:281-286
