title: Effects of the use of oral contraceptives on hip and knee kinematics in healthy women during anterior stair descent.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to evaluate the effects of the use of oral contraceptives (OC) on the hip and knee kinematics of healthy women during anterior stair descent.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty volunteers aged from 18 to 26 years were divided into two groups: 1-Group of women who had used OC for at least 3 months prior to evaluation (n = 20) and 2-Group of women who did not use OC (n = 20). The knee flexion/extension and abduction/adduction, hip flexion/extension, abduction/adduction and medial/lateral rotation excursions (degrees) were calculated for the dominant (supporting) limb during anterior stair descent. T tests for independent samples were used to compare the kinematic differences between the groups (α = 0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant difference was verified between the groups regarding the maximum excursion of knee flexion (n.s.) and abduction (n.s.) or hip flexion (n.s.), adduction (n.s.) and medial rotation (n.s.). When considering the knee flexion at 50°, no significant difference was verified between the groups regarding the excursion of knee abduction (n.s.) or hip flexion (n.s.) adduction (n.s.) and medial/lateral rotation (n.s.).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the use of OC does not influence the hip and knee kinematics during anterior stair descent. Therefore, the role of this medication as a protective factor against anterior cruciate ligament injuries remains questionable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapy, São Carlos Federal University, São Carlos, SP, Brazil, daniellobato@ig.com.br.
authors.forename: Daniel Ferreira Moreira
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Lobato
authors.forename: Rodrigo de Marche
authors.initials: Rde M
authors.lastname: Baldon
authors.forename: Paloma Yan Lam
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Wun
authors.forename: Paulo Roberto Pereira
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Santiago
authors.forename: Fábio Viadanna
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Serrão
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D005260:Female; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000502:physiology*; D009068:Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular / Q000502:physiology*; D012399:Rotation
chemical_list: D003276:Contraceptives, Oral