The Effect of the Oral Contraceptive Cycle Phase on Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage After Eccentric Exercise in Resistance-Trained Women

Romero-Parra, N, Rael, B, Alfaro-Magallanes, VM, Janse de Jonge, X, Cupeiro, R, and Peinado, AB; On Behalf of the IronFEMME Study Group. The effect of the oral contraceptive cycle phase on exercise-induced muscle damage after eccentric exercise in resistance-trained women. J Strength Cond Res 35(2): 353–359, 2021—To evaluate the influence of the active pill phase versus withdrawal phase of a monophasic oral contraceptive (OC) cycle on exercise-induced muscle damage and inflammation after eccentric resistance exercise. Eighteen resistance-trained female OC users (age: 25.6 ± 4.2 years, height: 162.4 ± 5.0 cm, and body mass: 58.1 ± 5.7 kg) performed an eccentric squat-based exercise during the active pill phase and withdrawal phase of their OC cycle. Muscle soreness, counter movement jump (CMJ), and blood markers of muscle damage and inflammation were evaluated before and postexercise (0, 2, 24, and 48 hours). Creatine kinase (CK) values were higher in the withdrawal (181.8 ± 89.8 U·L−1) than in the active pill phase (144.0 ± 39.7 U·L−1) (p

Source: Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research - January 30, 2021 Category: Sports Medicine Tags: Original Research Source Type: research