Shift of Peak Torque Angle After Eccentric Exercise

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the changes in the mechanical properties of quadriceps muscle following a sub-maximal concentric-eccentric stepping exercise protocol. Twenty-four untrained healthy subjects aged 21.9 ± 0.55 years were asked to perform a 10-minute stepping exercise where the dominant leg worked eccentrically and the non-dominant leg worked concentrically at a rate of 15 cycles/min. The quadriceps isokinetic peak torque and the corresponding peak torque angle at angular velocity of 60°/sec, and muscle soreness were determined at baseline, immediately after, day 1 and day 2 after the exercise protocol. Repeated measures of ANOVA showed no change in the peak torque after the eccentric exercise and concentric exercise (p > 0.05). There was a significant shift in the peak torque angle to longer muscle lengths in the eccentrically-exercised leg immediately (65.6 ± 2.21°) and on the following two days after exercise (day 1: 68.3 ± 2.71°; day 2: 67.4 ± 2.51°) when compared with baseline (61.4 ± 1.55°, p < 0.05). These features were not observed in the concentrically-exercised leg. Eccentric exercise produced a higher level of soreness than concentric exercise at day 1 and 2 after the protocol. Submaximal eccentric exercise could bring about changes in the muscle properties resulting in a shift in the angle-torque relationship to longer muscle length without significant force deficit.

Key words

muscle injury - eccentric exercise - rehabilitation - peak torque angle - delayed‐onset muscle soreness

References

• 1 Askling C, Karlsson J, Thorstensson A. Hamstring injury occurrence in elite soccer players after preseason strength training with eccentric overload.  Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2003;  13 244-250
• 2 Balnave C D, Allen D G. Intracellular calcium and force in single mouse muscle fibres following repeated contractions with stretch.  J Physiol. 1995;  488 25-36
• 3 Balnave C D, Thompson M W. Effect of training on eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage.  J Appl Physiol. 1993;  75 1545-1551
• 4 Barlas P, Walsh D M, Baxter G D, Allen J M. Delayed onset muscle soreness: effect of an ischaemic block upon mechanical allodynia in human.  Pain. 2000;  87 221-225
• 5 Bowers E J, Morgan D L, Proske U. Damage to the human quadriceps muscle from eccentric exercise and the training effect.  J Sports Sci. 2004;  22 1005-1014
• 6 Brockett C L, Morgan D L, Proske U. Human hamstring muscles adapt to eccentric exercise by changing optimum length.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2001;  33 783-790
• 7 Brooks S V, Zerba E, Faulkner J A. Injury to muscle fibres after single stretches of passive and maximally stimulated muscles in mice.  J Physiol. 1995;  488 459-469
• 8 Butterfield T A, Herzog W. Is the force-length relationship a useful indicator of contractile element damage following eccentric exercise?.  J Biomech. 2005;  38 1932-1937
• 9 Butterfield T A, Leonard T R, Herzog W. Differential serial sarcomere number adaptations in knee extensor muscles of rats is contraction type dependent.  J Appl Physiol. 2005;  99 1352-1385
• 10 Croisier J L, Forthomme B, Namurois M H, Vanderthommen M, Crielaard J M. Hamstring muscle strain recurrence and strength performance disorders.  Am J Sports Med. 2002;  30 199-203
• 11 Donnelly A E, Clarkson P M, Maughan R J. Exercise-induced muscle damage: effects of light exercise on damaged muscle.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1992;  64 350-353
• 12 Fridén J, Sjöström M, Ekblom B. A morphological study of delayed muscle soreness.  Experientia. 1981;  37 506-507
• 13 Gabbe B J, Branson R, Bennell K L. A pilot randomised controlled trial of eccentric exercise to prevent hamstring injuries in community-level Australian Football.  J Sci Med Sport. 2006;  9 103-109
• 14 Garrett Jr W E. Muscle strain injuries.  Am J Sports Med. 1996;  24 S2-S8
• 15 Garrett Jr W E. Muscle strain injuries: clinical and basic aspects.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1990;  22 436-443
• 16 Hayes P R, Bowen S J, Davies E J. The relationships between local muscular endurance and kinematic changes during a run to exhaustion at vV·O_2max.  J Strength Cond Res. 2004;  18 898-903
• 17 Holmich P, Uhrskor P, Ulnits L, Kanstrup Nielsen I LMB, Bjerg A M, Krogsgaard K. Effectiveness of active physical training as treatment for long-standing adductor-related groin pain in athletes: randomized trial.  Lancet. 1999;  353 439-443
• 18 Howell J N, Chleboun G, Conatser R. Muscle stiffness, strength loss, swelling and soreness following exercise-induced injury in humans.  J Physiol. 1993;  464 183-196
• 19 Jones C, Allen T, Talbot J, Morgan D L, Proske U. Changes in the mechanical properties of human and amphibian muscle after eccentric exercise.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1997;  76 21-31
• 20 Jönhagen S, Nemeth G, Eriksson E. Hamstring injuries in sprinters. The role of concentric and eccentric hamstring muscle strength and flexibility.  Am J Sports Med. 1994;  22 262-266
• 21 Janse de Jonge X AK, Boot C RL, Thom J M, Ruell P A, Thompson M W. The influence of menstrual cycle phase on skeletal muscle contractile characteristics in humans.  J Physiol. 2001;  530 161-166
• 22 Jones D A, Newham D J, Torgan C. Mechanical influences on long-lasting human muscle fatigue and delayed-onset pain.  J Physiol. 1989;  412 415-427
• 23 Katz B. The relationship between force and speed in muscular contraction.  J Physiol. 1939;  96 45-64
• 24 Kirkendall D T, Garrett Jr W E. Clinical perspectives regarding eccentric muscle injury.  Clin Orthop. 2002;  403 S81-S89
• 25 Koller A, Sumann G, Schobersberger W, Hoertnagl H, Haid C. Decrease in eccentric hamstring strength in runners in the Tirol Speed Marathon.  Br J Sports Med. 2006;  40 850-852
• 26 Lieber R L, Woodburn T M, Friden J. Muscle damage induced by eccentric contractions of 25 % strain.  J Appl Physiol. 1991;  70 2498-2507
• 27 Lynn R, Morgan D L. Decline running produces more sarcomeres in rat vastus intermedius muscle fibres than incline running.  J Appl Physiol. 1994;  79 831-838
• 28 Mair S D, Seaber A V, Glisson R R, Garrett Jr W E. The role of fatigue in susceptibility to acute muscle strain injury.  Am J Sports Med. 1996;  24 137-143
• 29 Morgan D L. New insights into the behavior of muscle during active lengthening.  Biophys J. 1990;  57 209-221
• 30 Morgan D L, Allen D G. Early events in stretch-induced muscle damage.  J Appl Physiol. 1999;  87 2007-2015
• 31 Newham D J, Jones D A, Clarkson P M. Repeated high-force eccentric exercise: effects on muscle pain and damage.  J Appl Physiol. 1987;  63 1381-1386
• 32 Newham D J, Jones D A, Edwards R H. Large delayed plasma creatine kinase changes after stepping exercise.  Muscle Nerve. 1983;  6 380-385
• 33 Orchard J, Marsden J, Lord S, Garlick D. Preseason hamstring muscle weakness associated with hamstring muscle injury in Australian footballers.  Am J Sports Med. 1997;  25 81-85
• 34 Philippou A, Bogdanis G C, Nevill A M, Maridaki M. Changes in the angle-force curve of human elbow flexors following eccentric and isometric exercise.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2004;  93 237-244
• 35 Proske U, Morgan D L. Muscle damage from eccentric exercise: mechanism, mechanical signs, adaptation and clinical applications.  J Physiol. 2001;  537 333-345
• 36 Talbot J A, Morgan D L. The effects of stretch parameters on eccentric exercise-induced damage to toad skeletal muscle.  J Muscle Res Cell Motil. 1998;  19 237-245
• 37 Talbot J A, Morgan D L. Quantitative analysis of sarcomere non-uniformities in active muscle following a stretch.  J Muscle Res Cell Motil. 1996;  17 261-268
• 38 Tyler T F, Nicholas S J, Campbell R J, Donellan S, McHugh M P. The effectiveness of a preseason exercise program to prevent adductor muscle strains in professional ice hockey players.  Am J Sports Med. 2002;  30 680-683
• 39 Whitehead N P, Allen T J, Morgan D L, Proske U. Damage to human muscle from eccentric exercise after training with concentric exercise.  J Physiol. 1998;  512 615-620
• 40 Yeung E W, Ballard H J, Bourreau J-P, Allen D G. Intracellular sodium in mammalian muscle fibres following eccentric contractions.  J Appl Physiol. 2003;  94 2475-2482
• 41 Yeung E W, Bourreau J-P, Allen D G, Ballard H J. The effect of eccentric contraction-induced injury on force and intracellular pH in rat skeletal muscles.  J Appl Physiol. 2002;  92 93-99
• 42 Yeung E W, Balnave C D, Ballard H J, Bourreau J P, Allen D G. Development of T-tubular vacuoles in eccentrically damaged mouse muscle fibres.  J Physiol. 2002;  540 581-592
• 43 Zairns B, Ciullo J V. Acute muscle and tendon injuries in athletes.  Clin Sports Med. 1983;  2 167-182