Metabolic and Cardiocirculatory Reactions after Concentric and Eccentric Exercise of the Shoulder

Lower metabolic and cardiocirculatory reactions to eccentric compared to concentric exercise are known for large muscle groups. The extent of exercise reaction depends on the muscle mass involved and moreover differs between the various muscle groups, while it is unclear to which extent cardiovascular and metabolic reactions and differences between the types of work exist in the shoulder, also it is not known whether these reactions differ according to training status. Lactate production (LA), heart rate (HR), and blood pressure (BP) were examined following eccentric and concentric shoulder movements in 16 male gymnasts (GN) and 15 male untrained subjects (US). Differentiation was made according to the types of work for peak torque (PT) and local muscle endurance (LME). Following eccentric exercise, the increase of LA and HR was clearly lower than following concentric exercise (p < 0.05). No difference was observed between the groups. Diastolic BP showed no changes, whereas systolic BP was higher following concentric exercise. Eccentric PT was higher than concentric PT in GN within a test-retest variability of 15 %. LME showed a lower degree of fatigue under eccentric conditions, independent of the group. It is concluded that eccentric exercise of the shoulder leads to lower metabolic and cardiocirculatory reactions than concentric exercise, in spite of higher peak torque and less fatigue. Exercises consisting of a high proportion of eccentric movement may thus be beneficial in the therapy of shoulder complaints, especially in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Key words:

Eccentric exercise - heart rate - lactate - fatigue - shoulder - physiotherapy

References

• 1 Aminoff T, Smolander J, Korhonen O, Louhevaara V. Cardiorespiratory and subjective responses to prolonged arm and leg exercise in healthy young and older men.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1997;  75 363-368
• 2 Antonio J, Gonyea W J. Skeletal muscle fiber hyperplasia.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1993;  25 1333-1345
• 3 Appell H J, Soares J MC, Duarte R. Exercise, muscle damage and fatigue.  Sports Med. 1992;  13 108-115
• 4 Aronen J G. Shoulder rehabilitation.  Clin Sports Med. 1985;  3 477-493
• 5 Bevegard S, Freyschuss U, Strandelli T. Circulatory adaptation to arm and leg exercise in supine and sitting position.  J Appl Physiol. 1966;  21 37-46
• 6 Blomquist C G, Saltin B. Cardiovascular adaptations to physical training.  Ann Rev Physiol. 1983;  45 169-189
• 7 Duvallet A, Kouassi B YL, Carzon J, Rieu M. Heart rate during functional isokinetic testing of muscle.  Isokinet Exerc Sci. 1993;  3 188-194
• 8 Fleck S J, Dean L S. Resistance-training experience and the pressor response during resistance exercise.  J Appl Physiol. 1987;  63 116-120
• 9 Friden J, Kjrell U, Thornell L E. Delayed muscle soreness and cytoskeletal alterations - an immunocytological study in man.  Int J Sports Med. 1984;  5 15-18
• 10 Gonyea W J, Sale D G, Gonyea F B, Mikesky A. Exercise-induced increases in muscle fiber numbers.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1986;  55 137-141
• 11 Gray J C, Chandler J M. Percent decline in peak torque production during repeated concentric and eccentric contractions of the quadriceps femoris muscle.  J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1989;  8 309-314
• 12 Gülch R W, Fuchs P, Geist A, Eisold M, Heitkamp H C. Eccentric and posteccentric contractile behavior of skeletal muscle: a comparative study in frog single fibers and in humans.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1991;  63 323-329
• 13 Haennel R G, Snydmiller G D, Teo K K, Greenwood P F, Quinney H A, Kappagoda C D. Changes in blood pressure and cardiac output during maximal isokinetic exercise.  Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1992;  73 150-155
• 14 Hinton R Y. Isokinetic evaluation of shoulder rotational strength in high school baseball pitchers.  Am J Sports Med. 1988;  16 274-279
• 15 Horstmann T, Mayer F, Fischer J, Maschmann J, Röcker K, Dickhuth H H. The cardiocirculatory reaction to isokinetic exercises in dependence on the form of exercise and age.  Int J Sports Med. 1994;  15 55
• 16 Hortobagyi T, Hill J, Lambert N. Force and EMG responses to eccentric and concentric resistive exercise training.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1994;  26 31
• 17 Hortobagyi T, Katch F I. Eccentric and concentric torque-velocity relationships during arm flexion and extension.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1990;  60 395-401
• 18 Jensen-Urstad M, Ahlborg G, Sahlin K. High lactate and NH₃ release during arm vs. leg exercise is not due to beta-adrenoceptor stimulation.  J Appl Physiol. 1993;  74 2860-2867
• 19 Jensen-Urstad M, Svedenhag J, Sahlin K. Effect of muscle mass on lactate formation during exercise in humans.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1994;  69 189-195
• 20 Kellis E, Baltzopoulos V. Isokinetic eccentric exercise.  Sports Med. 1995;  19 202-222
• 21 Komi P V, Viitasalo J T. Changes in motor unit activity and metabolism in human skeletal muscle during and after repeated eccentric and concentric contraction.  Acta Physiol Scand. 1977;  100 246-254
• 22 Kyröläinen H, Komi P V. Differences in mechanical efficiency between power- and endurance-trained athletes while jumping.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1995;  70 36-44
• 23 Louhevaara V, Sovijarvi A, Ilmarinen J, Teraslinna P. Differences in cardiorespiratory responses during and after arm crank and cycle exercise.  Acta Physiol Scand. 1990;  138 133-143
• 24 Mayer F, Horstmann T, Röcker K, Heitkamp H C, Dickhuth H H. Normal values of isokinetic maximum strength, the strength/velocity curve, and the angle at peak torque of all degrees of freedom in the shoulder.  Int J Sports Med. 1994;  15 25
• 25 Mayer F, Kranenberg U, Horstmann T, Röcker K, Dickhuth H H. Reproducibility of isokinetic peak torque and angle at peaktorque in the shoulder.  Int J Sports Med. 1994;  15 31
• 26 Mitchell J H. Neural control of the circulation during exercise.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1992;  22 141-154
• 27 Sahlin K, Katz A, Henriksson J. Redox state and lactate accumulation in human skeletal muscle during dynamic exercise.  Biochem. 1987;  245 551-556
• 28 Stone M H, Fleck S J, Triplett N R, Kraemer W J. Physiological adaptations to resistance training exercise.  Sports Med. 1991;  11 210-231
• 29 Tomberlin J P, Basford J R, Schwen E E. Comparative study of isokinetic eccentric and concentric training.  J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 1991;  12 31-35
• 30 Vokac Z, Bell E, Bautz-Holter E, Rodahl K. Oxygen uptake/heart rate relationship in leg and arm exercise, sitting and standing.  J Appl Physiol. 1975;  39 54-59
• 31 Weiss M, Pollert R, Stehle R, Weicker H. Differences in sympathoadrenal, hormonal, and metabolic adaptation to submaximal and maximal arm and leg work compared with whole stroke in breast-style swimming.  Int J Sports Med. 1998;  9 124