Influence of Acute Eccentric Exercise on the H:Q Ratio

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of an acute bout of eccentric exercise on maximal isokinetic concentric peak torque (PT) of the leg flexors and extensors and the hamstrings-to-quadriceps (H:Q) strength ratio. Sixteen male (mean±SD: age=20.9±2 years; stature=177.0±4.4 cm; mass=76.8±10.0 kg) volunteers performed maximal, concentric isokinetic leg extension and flexion muscle actions at 60°·sec^− 1 before and after (24–72 h) a bout of eccentric exercise. The eccentric exercise protocol consisted of 4 sets of 10 repetitions for the leg press, leg extension, and leg curl exercises at 120% of the concentric one repetition maximum (1-RM). The results indicated that the acute eccentric exercise protocol resulted in a significant (P<0.05) decrease in isokinetic leg flexion (13–19%) and leg extension (11–16%) PT 24–72 h post-exercise. However, the H:Q ratios were unaltered by the eccentric exercise protocol. These findings suggest that an acute bout of eccentric exercise utilizing both multi – and single – joint dynamic constant external resistance (DCER) exercises results in similar decreases in maximal isokinetic strength of the leg flexors and extensors, but does not alter the H:Q ratio.

Keywords

hamstring injury risk - hamstrings to quadriceps ratio - muscle strength imbalance

• References

• 1 Aagaard P, Simonsen EB, Magnusson SP, Larsson B, Dyhre-Poulsen P. A new concept for isokinetic hamstring: quadriceps muscle strength ratio. Am J Sports Med 1998; 26: 231-237
• 2 Alfredson H, Pietila T, Jonsson P, Lorentzon R. Heavy-load eccentric calf muscle training for the treatment of chronic Achilles tendinosis. Am J Sports Med 1998; 26: 360-366
• 3 Alkner BA, Tesch PA, Berg HE. Quadriceps EMG/force relationship in knee extension and leg press. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2000; 32: 459-463
• 4 Beneka A, Malliou P, Giannakopoulos K, Kyrialanis P, Godolias G. Different training modes for the rotator cuff muscle group. A comparative study. Isokinet Exerc Sci 2002; 10: 73-79
• 5 Brockett CL, Morgan DL, Proske U. Human hamstring muscles adapt to eccentric exercise by changing optimum length. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2001; 33: 783-790
• 6 Byrne C, Eston R. The effect of exercise-induced muscle damage on isometric and dynamic knee extensor strength and vertical jump performance. J Sports Sci 2002; 20: 417-425
• 7 Byrne C, Twist C, Eston R. Neuromuscular function after exercise-induced muscle damage: theoretical and applied implications. Sports Med 2004; 34: 49-69
• 8 Cameron M, Adams R, Maher C. Motor control and strength as predictors of hamstring injury in elite players of Australian football. Phys Ther Sport 2003; 4: 159-166
• 9 Chapman DW, Newton MJ, McGuigan MR, Nosaka K. Effect of slow-velocity lengthening contractions on muscle damage induced by fast-velocity lengthening contractions. J Strength Cond Res 2011; 25: 211-219
• 10 Chen TC, Lin KY, Chen HL, Lin MJ, Nosaka K. Comparison in eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage among four limb muscles. Eur J Appl Physiol 2011; 111: 211-223
• 11 Clark R, Bryant A, Culgan JP, Hartley B. The effects of eccentric hamstring strength training on dynamic jumping performance and isokinetic strength parameters: a pilot study on the implications for the prevention of hamstring injuries. Phys Ther Sport 2005; 6: 67-73
• 12 Clarkson PM, Nosaka K, Braun B. Muscle function after exercise-induced muscle damage and rapid adaptation. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1992; 24: 512-520
• 13 Cooke MB, Rybalka E, Williams AD, Cribb PJ, Hayes A. Creatine supplementation enhances muscle force recovery after eccentrically-induced muscle damage in healthy individuals. J Int Soc Sports Nutr 2009; 6: 1-11
• 14 Coombs R, Garbutt G, Cramp M. Comparison of conventional and functional hamstring-quadriceps moment ratios through a 90 degrees range of leg motion. J Sports Sci 2002; 20: 56-62
• 15 Costa PB, Ryan ED, Herda TJ, DeFreitas JM, Beck TW, Cramer JT. Effects of stretching on peak torque and the H:Q ratio. Int J Sports Med 2009; 30: 60-65
• 16 Costa PB, Ryan ED, Herda TJ, Defreitas JM, Beck TW, Cramer JT. Effects of static stretching on the hamstrings-to-quadriceps ratio and electromyographic amplitude in men. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2009; 49: 401-409
• 17 Croisier JL, Forthomme B, Namurois MH, Vanderthommen M, Crielaard JM. Hamstring muscle strain recurrence and strength performance disorders. Am J Sports Med 2002; 30: 199-203
• 18 Croisier JL, Ganteaume S, Binet J, Genty M, Ferret JM. Strength imbalances and prevention of hamstring injury in professional soccer players: a prospective study. Am J Sports Med 2008; 36: 1469-1475
• 19 Cutts A, Seedhom BB. Validity of cadaveric data for muscle physiological cross-sectional area ratios – a comparative study of cadaveric and invivo data in human thigh muscles. Clin Biochem 1993; 8: 156-162
• 20 Dauty M, Potiron-Josse M, Rochcongar P. Identification of previous hamstring muscle injury by isokinetic concentric and eccentric torque measurement in elite soccer player. Isokinet Exerc Sci 2003; 11: 139-144
• 21 Fleck SJ, Kraemer WJ. Designing Resistance Training Programs. 3^rd ed. Champaign: Human Kinetics; 2004
• 22 Franklin ME, Chamness M, Smith LL, Chenier TC, Sizemore CS, Rogers M, Forgione K. Effects of isokinetic soreness-inducing exercise on blood levels of C-reactive protein and creatine kinase. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1992; 16: 208-214
• 23 Franklin ME. A comparison of isokinetic eccentric exercise on delayed onset muscle soreness and creatine kinase in the quadriceps versus the hamstrings. Isokinet Exerc Sci 1993; 3: 68-73
• 24 Garrett Jr WE, Califf JC, Bassett 3rd FH. Histochemical correlates of hamstring injuries. Am J Sports Med 1984; 12: 98-103
• 25 Gleeson NP, Mercer TH. Reproducibility of isokinetic leg strength and endurance characteristics of adult men and women. Eur J Appl Physiol 1992; 65: 221-228
• 26 Grygorowicz M, Kubacki J, Pilis W, Gieremek K, Rzepka R. Selected isokinetic tests in knee injury prevention. Biol Sport 2010; 27: 47-51
• 27 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Update – Ethical Standards in Sport and Exercise Science Research. Int J Sports Med 2011; 32: 819-821
• 28 Heiser TM, Weber J, Sullivan G, Clare P, Jacobs RR. Prophylaxis and management of hamstring muscles injuries in intercollegiate football players. Am J Sports Med 1984; 12: 368-370
• 29 Higbie EJ, Cureton KJ, Warren 3rd GL, Prior BM. Effects of concentric and eccentric training on muscle strength, cross-sectional area, and neural activation. J Appl Physiol 1996; 81: 2173-2181
• 30 Houweling TAW, Head A, Hamzeh MA. Validity of isokinetic testing for previous hamstring injury detection in soccer players. Isokinet Exerc Sci 2009; 17: 213-220
• 31 Jonhagen S, Ackermann P, Saartok T. Forward lunge: a training study of eccentric exercises of the lower limbs. J Strength Cond Res 2009; 23: 972-978
• 32 Knapik JJ, Bauman CL, Jones BH, Harris JM, Vaughan L. Preseason strength and flexibility imbalances associated with athletic injuries in female collegiate athletes. Am J Sports Med 1991; 19: 76-81
• 33 LaStayo PC, Pierotti DJ, Pifer J, Hoppeler H, Lindstedt SL. Eccentric ergometry: increases in locomotor muscle size and strength at low training intensities. Am J Physiol 2000; 278: R1282-R1288
• 34 LaStayo PC, Woolf JM, Lewek MD, Snyder-Mackler L, Reich T, Lindstedt SL. Eccentric muscle contractions: their contribution to injury, prevention, rehabilitation, and sport. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2003; 33: 557-571
• 35 Malliou PC, Giannakopoulos K, Beneka AG, Gioftsidou A, Godolias G. Effective ways of restoring muscular imbalances of the rotator cuff muscle group: a comparative study of various training methods. Br J Sports Med 2004; 38: 766-772
• 36 McCleary RW, Andersen JC. Test-retest reliability of reciprocal isokinetic knee extension and flexion peak torque measurements. J Athl Train 1992; 27: 362-365
• 37 Narici MV, Roi GS, Landoni L. Force of knee extensor and flexor muscles and cross-sectional area determined by nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. Eur J Appl Physiol 1988; 57: 39-44
• 38 Newham DJ, Jones DA, Clarkson PM. Repeated high-force eccentric exercise: effects on muscle pain and damage. J Appl Physiol 1987; 63: 1381-1386
• 39 O’Sullivan K, O’Ceallaigh B, O’Connell K, Shafat A. The relationship between previous hamstring injury and the concentric isokinetic knee muscle strength of Irish Gaelic footballers. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2008; 9: 1-8
• 40 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
• 41 Overend TJ, Cunningham DA, Kramer JF, Lefcoe MS, Paterson DH. Knee extensor and knee flexor strength – cross-sectional area ratios in young and elderly men. J Gerontol 1992; 47: M204-M210
• 42 Paddon-Jones D, Keech A, Lonergan A, Abernethy P. Differential expression of muscle damage in humans following acute fast and slow velocity eccentric exercise. J Sci Med Sport 2005; 8: 255-263
• 43 Parr JJ, Yarrow JF, Garbo CM, Borsa PA. Symptomatic and functional responses to concentric-eccentric isokinetic versus eccentric-only isotonic exercise. J Athl Train 2009; 44: 462-468
• 44 Paschalis V, Nikolaidis MG, Theodorou AA, Panayiotou G, Fatouros IG, Koutedakis Y, Jamurtas AZ. A weekly bout of eccentric exercise is sufficient to induce health-promoting effects. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2011; 43: 64-73
• 45 Sayers SP, Clarkson PM, Lee J. Activity and immobilization after eccentric exercise: I. Recovery of muscle function. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2000; 32: 1587-1592
• 46 Sayers SP, Clarkson PM. Force recovery after eccentric exercise in males and females. Eur J Appl Physiol 2001; 84: 122-126
• 47 Shepstone TN, Tang JE, Dallaire S, Schuenke MD, Staron RS, Phillips SM. Short-term high- vs. low-velocity isokinetic lengthening training results in greater hypertrophy of the elbow flexors in young men. J Appl Physiol 2005; 98: 1768-1776
• 48 Vincent WJ. Statistics in Kinesiology. 3^rd ed. Champaign: Human Kinetics; 2005
• 49 Weiss LW. The obtuse nature of muscular strength: The contribution of rest to its development and expression. J Appl Sport Sci Res 1991; 5: 219-227
• 50 Wickiewicz TL, Roy RR, Powell PL, Edgerton VR. Muscle architecture of the human lower limb. Clin Orthop Relat Res 1983; 275-283
• 51 Wickiewicz TL, Roy RR, Powell PL, Perrine JJ, Edgerton VR. Muscle architecture and force-velocity relationships in humans. J Appl Physiol 1984; 57: 435-443
• 52 Wilhite MR, Cohen ER, Wilhite SC. Reliability of concentric and eccentric measurements of quadriceps performance using the KIN-COM dynamometer: the effect of testing order for three different speeds. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 1992; 15: 175-182
• 53 Yeung SS, Suen AM, Yeung EW. A prospective cohort study of hamstring injuries in competitive sprinters: preseason muscle imbalance as a possible risk factor. Br J Sports Med 2009; 43: 589-594