Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Induction and Assessment of Exertional Skeletal Muscle Damage in Humans
Published on: December 11, 2016
Muscle passive stiffness increases less after the second bout of eccentric exercise compared to the first bout
Damian Janecki1, Ewa Jarocka, Anna Jaskólska
1Department of Kinesiology, University School of Physical Education, Poland. damian.janecki@awf.wroc.pl
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to assess if the protective adaptation after eccentric exercise affects changes in passive stiffness of the biceps brachii muscle.
Design:
A within-group repeated measures design was used to compare changes in passive muscle stiffness after eccentric exercise between the first and second bouts separated by 2-3 weeks.
Method:
Maximal isometric torque, passive muscle stiffness and soreness were measured on the right elbow flexors in 14 untrained male volunteers before, immediately after, 24, 48 and 120 h following each bout of eccentric exercise that consisted of 30 repetitions of lowering a dumbbell adjusted to 75% of each individual's maximal isometric torque.
Results:
Maximal isometric torque reduced immediately after the first bout by 24 ± 11% (mean ± SD; P < 0.05) and remained decreased for the next 120 h (~23%). Passive muscle stiffness immediately increased from 223 ± 19 N/m to 254 ± 22 N/m (P < 0.05) and remained higher for 120 h. After the second bout maximal isometric torque decreased 21 ± 13%, and 48 h later recovered to pre-exercise level (P < 0.05). Increase in passive muscle stiffness was attenuated after the second bout (238 ± 17 N/m; P < 0.05). The perceived muscle soreness was lower after the second bout.
Conclusions:
Smaller increases in passive muscle stiffness and soreness, and faster maximal isometric torque recovery after the second bout of eccentric exercise could result from adaptation process that occurred after the first bout.
More Related Videos
14:10Isometric and Eccentric Force Generation Assessment of Skeletal Muscles Isolated from Murine Models of Muscular Dystrophies
Published on: January 31, 2013
07:44Construction of Constant-Load (Isotonic) and Constant-Velocity (Isokinetic) Torque-Velocity-Power Profiles In vivo for the Rat Plantar Flexors
Published on: October 3, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Muscle Stimulation Frequency
Wave summation
At low firing rates, motor neurons induce individual twitch contractions in muscle fibers. These twitches...
Exercise and Muscle Performance
Endurance exercises
Endurance exercises involve running, swimming, or cycling, which require repetitive movements with low force output. When a person engages in endurance exercise, a few noticeable changes occur in their skeletal muscles. For instance, the number of capillaries...
Isotonic and Isometric Muscle Contractions
Isotonic contractions
Isotonic contractions occur when a muscle changes length while the...
Motor Unit Stimulation
The latent period of contraction marks the onset of excitation-contraction coupling, when the action potential propagates across the sarcolemma, preparing the muscle fibers for contraction. As the fibers enter the contraction phase, the...
Relaxation of Skeletal Muscles
When an action potential reaches the axon terminal, it depolarizes the membrane and opens voltage-gated sodium channels. Sodium ions enter the cell, further depolarizing the presynaptic membrane. This depolarization causes voltage-gated calcium channels to open.
Alterations in Muscle Tone lll