Activity and immobilization after eccentric exercise: I. Recovery of muscle function.

PURPOSE The purpose of the present study was to determine whether activity would affect the recovery of muscle function after high-force eccentric exercise of the elbow flexors. METHODS Twenty-six male volunteers were randomly assigned to one of three groups for a 4-d treatment period: immobilization (N = 9), control (N = 8), and light exercise (N = 9). Relaxed arm angle (RANG), flexed arm angle (FANG), maximal isometric force (MIF), and perceived muscle soreness (SOR) were obtained for 3 consecutive days pre-exercise (baseline), immediately post-exercise, and for 8 consecutive days after the 4-d treatment period (recovery). During the treatment period, the immobilization group had their arm placed in a cast and supported in a sling at 90 degrees. The control group had no restriction of their arm activity. The light exercise group performed a daily exercise regimen of 50 biceps curls with a 5-lb dumbbell. RESULTS All subjects showed a prolonged decrease in RANG, increase in FANG, loss in MIF, and increase in SOR in the days after eccentric exercise. During recovery, there was no significant interaction observed among groups over time in RANG (P > 0.05) or FANG (P > 0.05), but there was a significant interaction observed among groups over time in both MIF (P < 0.01) and SOR (P < 0.01). Recovery of MIF was facilitated by light exercise and immobilization, whereas recovery from SOR was facilitated by light exercise and delayed by immobilization. CONCLUSIONS The recovery of MIF in both the light exercise and immobilization groups suggests that more than one mechanism may be involved in the recovery of isometric force after eccentric exercise.

[1]  P. Clarkson,et al.  Activity and immobilization after eccentric exercise: II. Serum CK. , 2000, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[2]  J. Giesey,et al.  Relationship between muscle swelling and stiffness after eccentric exercise. , 1998, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[3]  T. L. Hudson,et al.  Temporal inhomogeneity in brachial artery blood flow during forearm exercise. , 1997, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[4]  K. M. Chan,et al.  Electrical stimulation prevents immobilization atrophy in skeletal muscle of rabbits. , 1997, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

[5]  V. Edgerton,et al.  Response of the Neuromuscular Unit to Spaceflight: What Has Been Learned from the Rat Model , 1996, Exercise and sport sciences reviews.

[6]  P. Werner,et al.  Light concentric exercise and heavy eccentric muscle loading: effects on CK, MRI and markers of inflammation. , 1995, International journal of sports medicine.

[7]  P. Kannus,et al.  Vascular Density at the Myotendinous Junction of the Rat Gastrocnemius Muscle After Immobilization and Remobilization , 1995, The American journal of sports medicine.

[8]  K S McDonald,et al.  Effect of hindlimb unweighting on tissue blood flow in the rat. , 1992, Journal of applied physiology.

[9]  P. Clarkson,et al.  Muscle function after exercise-induced muscle damage and rapid adaptation. , 1992, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[10]  L. Smith,et al.  Acute inflammation: the underlying mechanism in delayed onset muscle soreness? , 1991, Medicine and science in sports and exercise.

[11]  D. Currier,et al.  Effect of motor neuromuscular electrical stimulation on microvascular perfusion of stimulated rat skeletal muscle. , 1991, Physical therapy.

[12]  D. Jones,et al.  Mechanical influences on long‐lasting human muscle fatigue and delayed‐onset pain. , 1989, The Journal of physiology.

[13]  P. Clarkson,et al.  Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage and Adaptation , 1989, Sports medicine.

[14]  D. Newham,et al.  Repeated high-force eccentric exercise: effects on muscle pain and damage. , 1987, Journal of applied physiology.

[15]  D. Desplanches,et al.  Structural and functional responses to prolonged hindlimb suspension in rat muscle. , 1987, Journal of applied physiology.

[16]  D. Newham,et al.  Skeletal muscle stiffness and pain following eccentric exercise of the elbow flexors , 1987, Pain.

[17]  P. Clarkson,et al.  Muscle Soreness and Serum Creatine Kinase Activity Following Isometric, Eccentric, and Concentric Exercise , 1985, International journal of sports medicine.

[18]  V. Duance,et al.  Collagen and fibronectin in a healing skeletal muscle injury. An immunohistological study of the effects of physical activity on the repair of injured gastrocnemius muscle in the rat. , 1985, The Journal of bone and joint surgery. British volume.

[19]  M. Sjöström,et al.  Myofibrillar Damage Following Intense Eccentric Exercise in Man , 1983, International journal of sports medicine.

[20]  P. Komi,et al.  Changes in motor unit activity and metabolism in human skeletal muscle during and after repeated eccentric and concentric contractions. , 1977, Acta physiologica Scandinavica.

[21]  V. Edgerton,et al.  Properties of immobilized hind-limb muscles of the Galago senegalensis , 1975, Experimental Neurology.

[22]  D. Cook,et al.  Exercise and pain: the neurobiology, measurement, and laboratory study of pain in relation to exercise in humans. , 1999, Exercise and sport sciences reviews.