Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2025 Nov 4. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003889. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: We examined changes in peak and rapid force and surface electromyographic (sEMG) excitation among females using monophasic OC and females not using OC following immobilization and rehabilitation. To examine potential sex differences, a male control group was included.
METHODS: Ten males, 10 OC females, and 10 non-OC females (mean ± SD age = 23 ± 3 years) immobilized their left wrist/hand with a brace for one week, followed by ≥ one week of rehabilitation. Participants completed grip tests to assess peak force and the rate of force development (RFD) before and after immobilization and post-rehabilitation, with electromyographic signals recorded from the extensor carpi radialis brevis (ECBR) and flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS).
RESULTS: Grip force declined post-immobilization: males = -17.2 ± 10.3%, non-OC = -22.3 ± 24.7%, OC = -20.7 ± 14.8%. No significant time × group interactions were observed for any dependent variables (p > 0.05, η² ≤ 0.084). Time effects showed recovery post-rehab across all groups. RFD, particularly at 200 ms, declined posttest and rebounded post-rehab. ECBR excitation increased post-rehab; FDS excitation responses were highly variable across participants. Five participants required > one week of rehabilitation (2 males, 2 non-OC, 1 OC), suggesting rapid recovery for most.
CONCLUSIONS: Males and females in this study exhibited similar declines and recovery in grip force after one week of wrist/hand immobilization, regardless of OC use. These findings suggest that the influence of OC use on neuromuscular outcomes in females undergoing short-term musculoskeletal rehabilitation may be minimal.
PMID:41187315 | DOI:10.1249/MSS.0000000000003889