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Creatine kinase and muscle soreness after repeated isometric exercise
P Triffletti1, P E Litchfield, P M Clarkson
1Department of Exercise Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst 01003.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|June 1, 1988
Summary
Adaptation to isometric exercise reduces muscle soreness and creatine kinase (CK) response. This protective effect, or adaptation, lasts about three weeks after a single exercise bout.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Muscle Adaptation
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Isometric exercise is a common training method.
- Muscle damage and soreness are typical responses to strenuous exercise.
- Understanding adaptation to exercise is crucial for optimizing training protocols.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the time course of adaptation to repeated bouts of isometric exercise.
- To examine changes in serum creatine kinase (CK) activity and muscle soreness following isometric exercise.
- To determine the duration of the adaptive response to isometric exercise.
Main Methods:
- Forty-five college-age males performed two or more bouts of strenuous isometric knee extensor exercise.
- Inter-bout recovery intervals varied from 1 to 9 weeks.
- Serum CK activity and muscle soreness were measured at regular intervals post-exercise.
Main Results:
- A significant decrease in CK and soreness responses was observed when the second exercise bout occurred within 3 weeks of the first.
- When recovery intervals exceeded 3 weeks, no significant adaptation was observed.
- In a group performing four bouts 1 week apart, the greatest CK and soreness responses occurred after the first bout, with subsequent bouts showing similar, reduced responses.
Conclusions:
- Adaptation to strenuous isometric exercise occurs and significantly reduces subsequent muscle damage and soreness.
- This adaptation is transient, with a protective effect lasting approximately 3 weeks.
- The greatest adaptation is achieved after a single bout of exercise, with repeated bouts at weekly intervals not further enhancing this protective effect.