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Methenitis S, Theodorou AA, Chatzinikolaou PN, Margaritelis NV, Nikolaidis MG, Paschalis V. The effects of chronic concentric and eccentric training on position sense and joint reaction angle of the knee extensors. Eur J Sport Sci 2023:1-11. [PMID: 36815692 DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2023.2184726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of chronic concentric or eccentric training on position sense and joint reaction angle, in healthy, untrained young men. Twenty-four men were randomly assigned into a pure concentric (CT) or a pure eccentric (ET) group and performed for 8 weeks, one training session/week, 75 maximal knee extensors contractions. Before and 48 h after the first (W1) and the last (W8) training sessions, knee joint position sense and joint reaction angle were assessed at three different knee angles (i.e. 30°, 45° and 60°). At the same time points, indirect indices of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) were evaluated (i.e. range of motion [ROM], optimal angle, maximum isometric, concentric and eccentric torques, delayed onset muscle soreness [DOMS] and blood creatine kinase concentrations [CK]). Forty-eight hours post W1, position sense, reaction angle and all EIMD indices were significantly changed for both groups (p < 0.05; η2: 0.125-0.618), however, greater alterations were observed after ET. Significant correlations were found, in both groups, between the training-induced changes of position sense, reaction angles and the changes of EIMD biomarkers (r: -0.855-0.825; p < 0.005). No significant changes were found 48 h post W8 for position sense, reaction angle and EIMD indices (p > 0.285) for both CT or ET groups. In conclusion, exercise-induced changes in position sense and reaction angle, were related to the magnitude of EIMD, and not by the type of muscle contraction per se. HighlightsExercise induced changes in position sense and reaction angle, were related to the magnitude of EIMD, and not by the type of muscle contraction per se.After the 1st training session eccentric exercise caused greater disturbances, compared to concentric exercise, in EIMD indices which caused concomitant disturbances to position sense and knee reaction angle.8 weeks of either eccentric or concentric training leads to preservation of position sense and knee reaction angle 48 h after maximal intensity exercise of either types of muscle contraction.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Methenitis
- School of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.,Theseus, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center, Athens, Greece
| | - A A Theodorou
- Department of Life Sciences, School of Sciences, European University, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - P N Chatzinikolaou
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres, Aristotle, University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - N V Margaritelis
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres, Aristotle, University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - M G Nikolaidis
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres, Aristotle, University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - V Paschalis
- School of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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2
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Nuzzo JL, Pinto MD, Nosaka K. Muscle fatigue during maximal eccentric-only, concentric-only, and eccentric-concentric bicep curl exercise with automated drop setting. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2023; 33:857-871. [PMID: 36752667 DOI: 10.1111/sms.14330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Connected adaptive resistance exercise (CARE) machines are new technology purported to adjust resistance exercise loads in response to muscle fatigue. The present study examined muscle fatigue (strength loss, fatigue perceptions) during maximal eccentric-only (ECCmax -only), concentric-only (CONmax -only), and coupled ECC-CON (ECCmax -CONmax ) bicep curl exercise on a CARE machine. Eleven men and nine women completed the three protocols in separate sessions and in random order. All protocols included 4 sets of 20 maximal effort muscle contractions. Strength loss was calculated as Set 4 set end load minus Set 1 highest load. The CARE machine's algorithm adjusted resistances automatically, permitting continued maximal effort repetitions without stopping. Consequently, all protocols caused substantial fatigue. Women were most susceptible to strength loss from exercise that included maximal efforts in the ECC phase, whereas men were most susceptible to strength loss from exercise that included maximal efforts in the CON phase. With ECCmax -only exercise, ECC strength loss (mean ± SD) was similar between men (55.9 ± 14.1%) and women (56.4 ± 10.8%). However, with CONmax -only exercise, men and women experienced 55.6 ± 6.2% and 35.3 ± 8.7% CON strength loss, respectively. With ECCmax -CONmax exercise, men experienced greater ECC (62.9 ± 7.7%) and CON (77.0 ± 5.3%) strength loss than women (ECC: 48.5 ± 15.7%, CON: 66.2 ± 12.1%). Heightened perceptions of fatigue and pain of the exercised limb were reported after all protocols. Women generally reported more biceps pain than men. The results illustrate CARE technology delivers ECC-only and accentuated ECC exercise feasibly. Acute responses to repeated maximal effort bicep curl exercise with such technology might differ between men and women depending on muscle contraction type.
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Affiliation(s)
- James L Nuzzo
- Centre for Human Performance, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Matheus D Pinto
- Centre for Human Performance, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Kazunori Nosaka
- Centre for Human Performance, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia, Australia
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3
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Kara ÖS, Ercan A, Çelebier M, Kaplan O, Öncül S, Korkusuz F. Plasma irisin and metabolomic response differ between concentric and isometric exercise. Sci Sports 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.scispo.2021.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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D'Emanuele S, Maffiuletti NA, Tarperi C, Rainoldi A, Schena F, Boccia G. Rate of Force Development as an Indicator of Neuromuscular Fatigue: A Scoping Review. Front Hum Neurosci 2021; 15:701916. [PMID: 34305557 PMCID: PMC8301373 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2021.701916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Because rate of force development (RFD) is an emerging outcome measure for the assessment of neuromuscular function in unfatigued conditions, and it represents a valid alternative/complement to the classical evaluation of pure maximal strength, this scoping review aimed to map the available evidence regarding RFD as an indicator of neuromuscular fatigue. Thus, following a general overview of the main studies published on this topic, we arbitrarily compared the amount of neuromuscular fatigue between the “gold standard” measure (maximal voluntary force, MVF) and peak, early (≤100 ms) and late (>100 ms) RFD. Seventy full-text articles were included in the review. The most-common fatiguing exercises were resistance exercises (37% of the studies), endurance exercises/locomotor activities (23%), isokinetic contractions (17%), and simulated/real sport situations (13%). The most widely tested tasks were knee extension (60%) and plantar flexion (10%). The reason (i.e., rationale) for evaluating RFD was lacking in 36% of the studies. On average, the amount of fatigue for MVF (−19%) was comparable to late RFD (−19%) but lower compared to both peak RFD (−25%) and early RFD (−23%). Even if the rationale for evaluating RFD in the fatigued state was often lacking and the specificity between test task and fatiguing exercise characteristics was not always respected in the included studies, RFD seems to be a valid indicator of neuromuscular fatigue. Based on our arbitrary analyses, peak RFD and early phase RFD appear even to be more sensitive to quantify neuromuscular fatigue than MVF and late phase RFD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel D'Emanuele
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Cantor Tarperi
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.,Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Alberto Rainoldi
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,NeuroMuscularFunction
- Research Group, School of Exercise and Sport Sciences (SUISM), University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Federico Schena
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy.,CeRiSM, Sport Mountain and Health Research Centre, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Gennaro Boccia
- Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,NeuroMuscularFunction
- Research Group, School of Exercise and Sport Sciences (SUISM), University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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Song JS, Abe T, Bell ZW, Wong V, Spitz RW, Yamada Y, Loenneke JP. The Relationship Between Muscle Size and Strength Does not Depend on Echo Intensity in Healthy Young Adults. J Clin Densitom 2021; 24:406-413. [PMID: 33020041 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocd.2020.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Muscle quality is typically defined as muscle strength relative to muscle size. Echo intensity has gained popularity as an index of skeletal muscle quality. There is common agreement that muscle size is related to strength at baseline and echo intensity is purported to impact this relationship. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine whether echo intensity can be used as a physiological marker for muscle quality by investigating the moderating effect of echo intensity on the relationship between muscle size and strength. A sample of 96 participants was used for the upper body analysis and a separate sample of 96 participants was used for the lower body analysis. Echo intensity, muscle thickness, and strength measurements were measured on each limb. For strength, participants performed unilateral elbow flexion (upper body analysis) and knee extension (lower body analysis) to quantify 1-repetition maximum. Muscle thickness and echo intensity were determined from images captured using B-mode ultrasound. Muscle size correlated with muscle strength for all limbs. However, the relationship between muscle size and strength was not significantly moderated by echo intensity for Arm 1 (b = 0.042, p = 0.54) or Arm 2 (b = -0.002, p = 0.97). At the proximal site, no significant moderating effect of echo intensity was found in Leg 1 (b = 0.037, p = 0.67) or Leg 2 (b = -0.085, p = 0.29). Similarly, no significant moderating effect was observed at the distal site for Leg 1 (b = 0.03, p = 0.69) or Leg 2 (b = -0.026, p = 0.75). The results would indicate that the relationship between muscle size and strength does not depend on echo intensity. Therefore, the use of echo intensity as an index of muscle quality in healthy young adults may need to be reconsidered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Seob Song
- Department of Health, Exercise Science, & Recreation Management, Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
| | - Takashi Abe
- Department of Health, Exercise Science, & Recreation Management, Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
| | - Zachary W Bell
- Department of Health, Exercise Science, & Recreation Management, Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
| | - Vickie Wong
- Department of Health, Exercise Science, & Recreation Management, Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
| | - Robert W Spitz
- Department of Health, Exercise Science, & Recreation Management, Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
| | - Yujiro Yamada
- Department of Health, Exercise Science, & Recreation Management, Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
| | - Jeremy P Loenneke
- Department of Health, Exercise Science, & Recreation Management, Kevser Ermin Applied Physiology Laboratory, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA.
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Drury B, Clarke H, Moran J, Fernandes JFT, Henry G, Behm DG. Eccentric Resistance Training in Youth: A Survey of Perceptions and Current Practices by Strength and Conditioning Coaches. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol 2021; 6:21. [PMID: 33670687 PMCID: PMC8006255 DOI: 10.3390/jfmk6010021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eccentric resistance training (ERT) in youth is advocated for aiding performance and injury risk. However, research investigating the applied practices of ERT in youth is in its infancy. In this study, we surveyed the perceptions and practices of practitioners utilizing ERT in youth to provide an understanding of its current application in practice. METHODS Sixty-four strength and conditioning coaches completed an online survey reporting their current use of ERT in youth using both open and closed questions. RESULTS Coaches deemed the inclusion of ERT important in youth with its inclusion based upon factors such as maturation status, training age and strength levels. Coaches also displayed an awareness of the physiological responses to eccentric exercise in youth compared to adults. ERT was primarily used for injury prevention, with the majority of coaches using body-weight and tempo exercises. Furthermore, utilizing eccentric hamstrings exercises was reported as highly important. The frequency of ERT tended to increase in older age groups and coaches mainly prescribed self-selected rest intervals. Finally, the need for further research into the training guidelines of ERT in youth was highlighted, in which coaches require more information on how maturation influences training adaptations and the fatigue-recovery responses. CONCLUSION Coaches emphasized the importance of including ERT for both performance and injury prevention factors in youth although further research is required to generate practical guidelines for coaches in order to support its inclusion within practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Drury
- Department of Applied Sport Sciences, Hartpury University, Gloucestershire GL19 3BE, UK; (H.C.); (J.F.T.F.); (G.H.)
| | - Hannah Clarke
- Department of Applied Sport Sciences, Hartpury University, Gloucestershire GL19 3BE, UK; (H.C.); (J.F.T.F.); (G.H.)
| | - Jason Moran
- School of Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK;
| | - John F. T. Fernandes
- Department of Applied Sport Sciences, Hartpury University, Gloucestershire GL19 3BE, UK; (H.C.); (J.F.T.F.); (G.H.)
| | - Greg Henry
- Department of Applied Sport Sciences, Hartpury University, Gloucestershire GL19 3BE, UK; (H.C.); (J.F.T.F.); (G.H.)
| | - David G. Behm
- School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL A1C 5S7, Canada;
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Romero-Parra N, Cupeiro R, Alfaro-Magallanes VM, Rael B, Rubio-Arias JÁ, Peinado AB, Benito PJ. Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage During the Menstrual Cycle: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Strength Cond Res 2021; 35:549-561. [PMID: 33201156 DOI: 10.1519/jsc.0000000000003878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Romero-Parra, N, Cupeiro, R, Alfaro-Magallanes, VM, Rael, B, Rubio-Arias, JA, Peinado, AB, and Benito, PJ, IronFEMME Study Group. Exercise-induced muscle damage during the menstrual cycle: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res 35(2): 549-561, 2021-A strenuous bout of exercise could trigger damage of muscle tissue, and it is not clear how sex hormone fluctuations occurring during the menstrual cycle (MC) affect this response. The aims of this study were to systematically search and assess studies that have evaluated exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) in eumenorrheic women over the MC and to perform a meta-analysis to quantify which MC phases display the muscle damage response. The guidelines of the Preferred Reported Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis were followed. A total of 19 articles were analyzed in the quantitative synthesis. Included studies examined EIMD in at least one phase of the following MC phases: early follicular phase (EFP), late follicular phase (LFP), or midluteal phase (MLP). The meta-analysis demonstrated differences between MC phases for delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and strength loss (p < 0.05), whereas no differences were observed between MC phases for creatine kinase. The maximum mean differences between pre-excercise and post-exercise for DOMS were EFP: 6.57 (4.42, 8.71), LFP: 5.37 (2.10, 8.63), and MLP: 3.08 (2.22, 3.95), whereas for strength loss were EFP: -3.46 (-4.95, -1.98), LFP: -1.63 (-2.36, -0.89), and MLP: -0.72 (-1.07, -0.36) (p < 0.001). In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggests that hormone fluctuations throughout the MC affect EIMD in terms of DOMS and strength loss. Lower training loads or longer recovery periods could be considered in the EFP, when sex hormone concentrations are lower and women may be more vulnerable to muscle damage, whereas strength conditioning loads could be enhanced in the MLP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Romero-Parra
- LFE Research Group, Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Polytechnic University of Madrid (UPM), Madrid, Spain
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Margaritelis NV, Theodorou AA, Chatzinikolaou PN, Kyparos A, Nikolaidis MG, Paschalis V. Eccentric exercise per se does not affect muscle damage biomarkers: early and late phase adaptations. Eur J Appl Physiol 2020; 121:549-559. [PMID: 33156414 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-020-04528-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Acute high-intensity unaccustomed eccentric exercise performed by naive subjects is accompanied by disturbances in muscle damage biomarkers. The aim of the study was to investigate whether a causal relationship indeed exists between eccentric exercise and muscle damage. METHODS Twenty-four men randomly assigned into a concentric only or an eccentric-only training group and performed 10 weeks of isokinetic resistance exercise (one session/week of 75 maximal knee extensors actions). Physiological markers of muscle function and damage (i.e., range of motion, delayed onset muscle soreness, isometric, concentric and eccentric peak torque) were assessed prior to and 1-3 and 5 days post each session. Biochemical markers of muscle damage (creatine kinase) and inflammation (C-reactive protein) were measured prior and 2 days post each session. RESULTS After the first bout, eccentric exercise induced greater muscle damage compared to concentric exercise; however, during the nine following sessions, this effect progressively diminished, while after the 10th week of training, no alterations in muscle damage biomarkers were observed after either exercise protocol. Additionally, strength gains at the end of the training period were comparable between the two groups and were mode-specific. CONCLUSION (1) eccentric exercise per se does not affect muscle damage biomarkers; (2) muscle damage occurs as a result of muscle unaccustomedness to this action type; (3) exercise-induced muscle damage is not a prerequisite for increased muscle strength. Collectively, we believe that muscle unaccustomedness to high-intensity eccentric exercise, and not eccentric exercise per se, is the trigger for muscle damage as indicated by muscle damage biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikos V Margaritelis
- Dialysis Unit, 424 General Military Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.,Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Serres, Greece
| | - Anastasios A Theodorou
- Department of Health Sciences, School of Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Panagiotis N Chatzinikolaou
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Serres, Greece
| | - Antonios Kyparos
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Serres, Greece
| | - Michalis G Nikolaidis
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Serres, Greece
| | - Vassilis Paschalis
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, School of Physical Education and Sport Science, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Ethnikis Αntistasis 41, 17237, Athens, Greece.
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9
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Négyesi J, Zhang LY, Jin RN, Hortobágyi T, Nagatomi R. A below-knee compression garment reduces fatigue-induced strength loss but not knee joint position sense errors. Eur J Appl Physiol 2020; 121:219-229. [PMID: 33025229 DOI: 10.1007/s00421-020-04507-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We examined the possibility that wearing a below-knee compression garment (CG) reduces fatigue-induced strength loss and joint position sense (JPS) errors in healthy adults. METHODS Subjects (n = 24, age = 25.5 ± 4 years) were allocated to either one of the treatment groups that performed 100 maximal isokinetic eccentric contractions at 30°-1 with the right-dominant knee extensors: (1) with (EXPCG) or (2) without CG (EXP) or to (3) a control group (CONCG: CG, no exercise). Changes in JPS errors, and maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) torque were measured immediately post-, 24 h post-, and 1 week post-intervention in each leg. All testing was done without the CG. RESULTS CG afforded no protection against JPS errors. Mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed that absolute JPS errors increased post-intervention in EXPCG and EXP not only in the right-exercised (52%, p = 0.013; 57%, p = 0.007, respectively) but also in the left non-exercised (55%, p = 0.001; 58%, p = 0.040, respectively) leg. Subjects tended to underestimate the target position more in the flexed vs. extended knee positions (75-61°: - 4.6 ± 3.6°, 60-50°: - 4.2 ± 4.3°, 50-25°: - 2.9 ± 4.2°), irrespective of group and time. Moreover, MVIC decreased in EXP but not in EXPCG and CONCG at immediately post-intervention (p = 0.026, d = 0.52) and 24 h post-intervention (p = 0.013, d = 0.45) compared to baseline. CONCLUSION Altogether, a below-knee CG reduced fatigue-induced strength loss at 80° knee joint position but not JPS errors in healthy younger adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- János Négyesi
- Division of Biomedical Engineering for Health and Welfare, Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Sendai, Japan.
| | - Li Yin Zhang
- Department of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Rui Nian Jin
- Department of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Tibor Hortobágyi
- Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ryoichi Nagatomi
- Division of Biomedical Engineering for Health and Welfare, Tohoku University Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
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10
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Exercise induced changes in echo intensity within the muscle: a brief review. J Ultrasound 2020; 23:457-472. [PMID: 31925731 DOI: 10.1007/s40477-019-00424-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Echo intensity is the mean pixel intensity of a specific region of interest from an ultrasound image. This variable has been increasingly used in the literature as a physiological marker. Although there has been an increased interest in reporting changes in echo intensity in response to exercise, little consensus exists as to what a change in echo intensity represents physiologically. The purpose of this paper is to review some of the earliest, as well as the most up to date literature regarding the changes in echo intensity in response to exercise. Echo intensity has been used to measure muscle quality, muscle damage, acute swelling, and intramuscular glycogen. The changes in echo intensity, however, are not consistent throughout the literature and often times lead to conclusions that seem contrary to the physiologic effects of exercise. For example, echo intensity increases in conjunction with increases in strength, contrary to what would be expected if echo intensity was a marker of muscle quality/muscle damage. It is conceivable that a change in echo intensity represents a range of physiologic effects at different time points. We recommend that these effects should be determined experimentally in order to rule out what echo intensity might and might not represent. Until this is done, caution should be employed when interpreting changes in echo intensity with acute and chronic exercise.
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