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Exercise-induced muscle soreness after concentric and eccentric isokinetic contractions
G K Fitzgerald1, J M Rothstein, T P Mayhew
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, PA 19102.
Physical Therapy
|July 1, 1991
Summary
Exercise intensity, not contraction type, primarily influences muscle soreness. Eccentric contractions at maximal effort caused more soreness than concentric ones, especially at higher intensities.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Sports Medicine
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Exercise-induced muscle soreness, often termed delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), is a common phenomenon following strenuous physical activity.
- The role of different muscle contraction types (concentric vs. eccentric) and exercise intensity in the development of muscle soreness is not fully elucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether the type of isokinetic contraction (concentric vs. eccentric) influences the degree of exercise-induced muscle soreness in the quadriceps femoris.
- To determine the impact of exercise intensity on muscle soreness when comparing concentric and eccentric contractions.
Main Methods:
- A two-part study involving human subjects performing isokinetic quadriceps contractions.
- Experiment 1: Equal power level exercise (concentric vs. eccentric). Experiment 2: Maximal effort exercise (concentric vs. eccentric).
- Muscle soreness was quantified using a visual analogue scale at pre-exercise, 24 hours, and 48 hours post-exercise. Data analyzed using one-way ANOVA.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in muscle soreness was observed between concentric and eccentric groups when exercising at the same power level.
- Subjects performing maximal effort eccentric contractions reported significantly greater muscle soreness compared to those performing maximal effort concentric contractions.
- Muscle soreness increased from pre-exercise to post-exercise periods in both groups, with a more pronounced increase in the maximal effort eccentric group.
Conclusions:
- Exercise intensity appears to be a more critical determinant of exercise-induced muscle soreness than the type of muscle contraction.
- Maximal effort eccentric contractions lead to greater muscle soreness than maximal effort concentric contractions.
- Future research should focus on the interplay between exercise intensity, contraction type, and the physiological mechanisms underlying muscle soreness.