Relationship between Eccentric-Exercise-Induced Loss in Muscle Function to Muscle Soreness and Tissue Hardness

Area of Science:

• Exercise Physiology
• Sports Medicine
• Muscle Physiology

Background:

• Unusual exercise, particularly eccentric contraction (ECC), is known to cause delayed-onset muscle soreness.
• Factors contributing to muscle strength and range of motion (ROM) loss following ECC-induced muscle damage require detailed investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the factors associated with the loss of muscle strength and ROM in eccentrically damaged muscle.
• To identify correlations between muscle soreness, tissue hardness, pain threshold, and functional deficits after ECC exercise.

Main Methods:

• Fifty-six sedentary healthy young males performed 60 repetitions of ECC exercise.
• Muscle strength, ROM, tissue hardness, and muscle soreness were measured before and 48 hours post-exercise.

Main Results:

• A decrease in ROM was significantly correlated with an increase in tissue hardness.
• A decrease in muscle strength was significantly correlated with an increase in muscle soreness.

Conclusions:

• Tissue hardness is a key factor to manage for mitigating ROM loss after ECC.
• Muscle soreness control is essential for preserving muscle strength following ECC-induced muscle damage.