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Vila-Chã C, Bovolini A, Francisco C, Costa-Brito AR, Vaz C, Rua-Alonso M, de Paz JA, Vieira T, Mendonca GV. Acute effects of isotonic eccentric exercise on the neuromuscular function of knee extensors vary according to the motor task: impact on muscle strength profiles, proprioception and balance. Front Sports Act Living 2023; 5:1273152. [PMID: 38022776 PMCID: PMC10655025 DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2023.1273152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Eccentric exercise has often been reported to result in muscle damage, limiting the muscle potential to produce force. However, understanding whether these adverse consequences extend to a broader, functional level is of apparently less concern. In this study, we address this issue by investigating the acute and delayed effects of supramaximal isotonic eccentric exercise on neuromuscular function and motor performance of knee extensors during tasks involving a range of strength profiles, proprioception, and balance. Methods Fifteen healthy volunteers (23.2 ± 2.9 years old) performed a unilateral isotonic eccentric exercise of the knee extensors of their dominant lower limb (4 × 10 reps at 120% of one Repetition Maximum (1RM)). The maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVC), rate of force development (RFD), force steadiness of the knee extensors, as well as knee joint position sense and mediolateral (MLI) and anteroposterior stability (API) of the dominant lower limb, were measured pre-, immediately, and 24 h after the eccentric exercise. The EMG amplitude of the vastus medialis (VM) and biceps femoris (BF) were concomitantly evaluated. Results MVC decreased by 17.9% immediately after exercise (P < 0.001) and remained reduced by 13.6% 24 h following exercise (P < 0.001). Maximum RFD decreased by 20.4% immediately after exercise (P < 0.001) and remained reduced by 15.5% at 24 h (P < 0.001). During the MVC, EMG amplitude of the VM increased immediately after exercise while decreasing during the RFD task. Both values returned to baseline 24 h after exercise. Compared to baseline, force steadiness during submaximal isometric tasks reduced immediately after exercise, and it was accompanied by an increase in the EMG amplitude of the VM. MLI and knee joint position sense were impaired immediately after isotonic eccentric exercise (P < 0.05). While MLI returned to baseline values 24 h later, the absolute error in the knee repositioning task did not. Discussion Impairments in force production tasks, particularly during fast contractions and in the knee joint position sense, persisted 24 h after maximal isotonic eccentric training, revealing that neuromuscular functional outputs were affected by muscle fatigue and muscle damage. Conversely, force fluctuation and stability during the balance tasks were only affected by muscle fatigue since fully recovered was observed 24 h following isotonic eccentric exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Vila-Chã
- Laboratory for the Assessment of Sports Performance, Physical Exercise and Health (Labmov), Polytechnic of Guarda, Guarda, Portugal
- Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences, and Human Development, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Antonio Bovolini
- Laboratory for the Assessment of Sports Performance, Physical Exercise and Health (Labmov), Polytechnic of Guarda, Guarda, Portugal
- Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences, and Human Development, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Cristiana Francisco
- Laboratory for the Assessment of Sports Performance, Physical Exercise and Health (Labmov), Polytechnic of Guarda, Guarda, Portugal
| | - Ana R. Costa-Brito
- Laboratory for the Assessment of Sports Performance, Physical Exercise and Health (Labmov), Polytechnic of Guarda, Guarda, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Vaz
- Laboratory for the Assessment of Sports Performance, Physical Exercise and Health (Labmov), Polytechnic of Guarda, Guarda, Portugal
| | - María Rua-Alonso
- Laboratory for the Assessment of Sports Performance, Physical Exercise and Health (Labmov), Polytechnic of Guarda, Guarda, Portugal
- Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences, and Human Development, Vila Real, Portugal
- Performance and Health Group, Department of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sports Sciences and Physical Education, University of A Coruna, A Coruña, Spain
| | | | - Taian Vieira
- Laboratorio di Ingegneria del Sistema Neuromuscolare (LISiN), Dipartimento di Elettronica e Telecomunicazioni, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
- PoliToBIOMed Lab, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Goncalo V. Mendonca
- Neuromuscular Research Laboratory, Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Human Performance (CIPER), Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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Larsen L, Hirata R, Graven-Nielsen T. Pain-evoked trunk muscle activity changes during fatigue and DOMS. Eur J Pain 2017; 21:907-917. [DOI: 10.1002/ejp.993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L.H. Larsen
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), SMI; Aalborg University; Denmark
- Department of Physiotherapy; University College North Denmark; Aalborg Denmark
| | - R.P. Hirata
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), SMI; Aalborg University; Denmark
| | - T. Graven-Nielsen
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Center for Neuroplasticity and Pain (CNAP), SMI; Aalborg University; Denmark
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Physiological and Neural Adaptations to Eccentric Exercise: Mechanisms and Considerations for Training. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 2015:193741. [PMID: 26543850 PMCID: PMC4620252 DOI: 10.1155/2015/193741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2014] [Revised: 01/13/2015] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Eccentric exercise is characterized by initial unfavorable effects such as subcellular muscle damage, pain, reduced fiber excitability, and initial muscle weakness. However, stretch combined with overload, as in eccentric contractions, is an effective stimulus for inducing physiological and neural adaptations to training. Eccentric exercise-induced adaptations include muscle hypertrophy, increased cortical activity, and changes in motor unit behavior, all of which contribute to improved muscle function. In this brief review, neuromuscular adaptations to different forms of exercise are reviewed, the positive training effects of eccentric exercise are presented, and the implications for training are considered.
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Hassanlouei H, Falla D, Arendt-Nielsen L, Kersting U. The effect of six weeks endurance training on dynamic muscular control of the knee following fatiguing exercise. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2014; 24:682-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2014.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2013] [Revised: 05/23/2014] [Accepted: 06/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
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Yu J. Comparison of Lower Limb Muscle Activity during Eccentric and Concentric Exercises in Runners with Achilles Tendinopathy. J Phys Ther Sci 2014; 26:1351-3. [PMID: 25276014 PMCID: PMC4175235 DOI: 10.1589/jpts.26.1351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2014] [Accepted: 02/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
[Purpose] This study aimed to identify changes in muscle activation by comparing muscle activities of the affected side (AS) and non-affected side (NAS) during eccentric and concentric exercises in runners with unilateral Achilles tendinopathy. [Subjects] The study included 18 participants consisting of men and women with chronic Achilles tendinopathy in a single leg who had more than 1 year of running experience. [Methods] All subjects performed concentric and eccentric exercise with the Achilles tendon moving from full plantar flexion to full dorsiflexion for 8 seconds, and electromyography data was obtained. [Results] All muscles examined showed a significant increase in %maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) with concentric exercise compared with eccentric exercise. Compared with the NAS, the AS showed significant increases in %MVC of the rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, and lateral gastrocnemius. All interaction effects of exercise methods and injuries showed statistically significant changes. [Conclusion] Runners with Achilles tendinopathy show increases in medial gastrocnemius activity when performing eccentric exercise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeho Yu
- Department of Physical Therapy, Sun Moon University, Republic of Korea
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Hedayatpour N, Falla D. Delayed onset of vastii muscle activity in response to rapid postural perturbations following eccentric exercise: a mechanism that underpins knee pain after eccentric exercise? Br J Sports Med 2013; 48:429-34. [PMID: 23958827 DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2012-092015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Appropriate timing of activity of the vastus medialis obliqus (VMO) and vastus lateralis (VL) muscles is a key factor for proper tracking of the patella in the trochlear groove during knee extension. This study investigates the relative timing of activation of the VMO and VL muscles during unexpected perturbations performed before and after eccentric exercise. METHODS Surface electromyography signals were recorded from the VMO and VL muscles of the right leg in 11 healthy men during rapid postural perturbations performed at baseline, immediately after eccentric exercise of the quadriceps, and at 24 and 48 h after exercise. Participants stood on a moveable platform during which eight randomised postural perturbations were performed (4 repetitions of 2 perturbation types: 8 cm forward slides, 8 cm backward slides). RESULTS Before the eccentric exercise, the onset of VMO activity was significantly earlier than the VL muscle (average for both forward and backward perturbations: VMO 39.0±7.1 ms; VL 43.7±7.9 ms). However, the onset of VMO activity was significantly later compared with VL muscle immediately after eccentric exercise and this remained 24 and 48 h after eccentric exercise (average across all postexercise sessions and perturbation directions: VMO 72.3±11.1 ms; VL 56.0±8.2 ms; p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The onset of VMO-VL activity in response to rapid destabilising perturbations is altered immediately after eccentric exercise and during eccentric exercise-induced muscle soreness up to 48 h later. These observations may help explain the high prevalence of knee disorders after high intensity eccentric exercise.
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Spyropoulos G, Tsatalas T, Tsaopoulos DE, Sideris V, Giakas G. Biomechanics of sit-to-stand transition after muscle damage. Gait Posture 2013; 38:62-7. [PMID: 23164757 DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2012.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2012] [Revised: 10/16/2012] [Accepted: 10/23/2012] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of exercise-induced muscle damage on the biomechanics of the sit-to-stand transition (STST). Seventeen volunteers participated in an intense, eccentric based, muscle damage protocol of knee flexors and extensors via an isokinetic dynamometer. Kinematic and kinetic data were collected using a 10-camera optoelectronic system and a force plate 24h before and 48h after exercise. Statistical analysis showed significant differences in kinematic and kinetic parameters after exercise. Forty-eight hours after exercise, the strategy did change and the knee joint relative effort level increased significantly. Pelvic and hip kinematics, in conjunction with the knee extension joint moment, provided an efficient mechanism to support the participants' locomotor system during the STST. These results may be of great significance in designing supportive devices, as well as composing rehabilitation programs for young or elderly individuals, with various musculoskeletal pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giannis Spyropoulos
- Lab of Human Performance and Rehabilitation, Center for Research and Technology, Thessaly, Trikala, Greece; Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece
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Hedayatpour N, Falla D. Non-uniform muscle adaptations to eccentric exercise and the implications for training and sport. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 2011; 22:329-33. [PMID: 22192598 DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2011.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2011] [Revised: 11/10/2011] [Accepted: 11/14/2011] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to the variations in morphological and architectural characteristics of fibers within a skeletal muscle, regions of a muscle may be differently affected by eccentric exercise. Although eccentric exercise may be beneficial for increasing muscle mass and can be beneficial for the treatment of tendinopathies, the non-uniform effect of eccentric exercise results in regional muscle damage and as a consequence, non-uniform changes in muscle activation. This regional muscle weakness can contribute to muscle strength imbalances and may potentially alter the load distribution on joint structures, increasing the risk of injury. In this brief review, the non-uniform effects of eccentric exercise are reviewed and their implications for training and sport are considered.
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