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Concentrically trained cyclists are not more susceptible to eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage than are stretch–shortening exercise-trained runners

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An Erratum to this article was published on 25 August 2012

Abstract

Here, we test the hypothesis that continuous concentric exercise training renders skeletal muscles more susceptible to damage in response to eccentric exercise. Elite road cyclists (CYC; n = 10, training experience 8.1 ± 2.0 years, age 22.9 ± 3.7 years), long-distance runners (LDR; n = 10, 9.9 ± 2.3 years, 24.4 ± 2.5 years), and healthy untrained (UT) men (n = 10; 22.4 ± 1.7 years) performed 100 submaximal eccentric contractions at constant angular velocity of 60° s−1. Concentric isokinetic peak torque, isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), and electrically induced knee extension torque were measured at baseline and immediately and 48 h after an eccentric exercise bout. Muscle soreness was assessed and plasma creatine kinase (CK) activity was measured at baseline and 48 h after exercise. Voluntary and electrically stimulated knee extension torque reduction were significantly greater (p < 0.05) in UT than in LDR and CYC. Immediately and 48 h after exercise, MVC decreased by 32 % and 20 % in UT, 20 % and 5 % in LDR, and 25 % and 6 % in CYC. Electrically induced 20 Hz torque decreased at the same times by 61 and 29 % in UT, 40 and 17 % in LDR, and 26 and 14 % in CYC. Muscle soreness and plasma CK activity 48 h after exercise did not differ significantly between athletes and UT subjects. In conclusion, even though elite endurance athletes are more resistant to eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage than are UT people, stretch–shortening exercise-trained LDR have no advantage over concentrically trained CYC.

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Abbreviations

Ca2+ :

Calcium ions

CK:

Plasma creatine kinase activity

CYC:

Road cyclists

IT:

Concentric isokinetic peak torque

LDR:

Long-distance runners

LFF:

Low-frequency fatigue

MVC:

Maximal voluntary contraction

P100:

100 Hz electrically induced torque

P20:

20 Hz electrically induced torque

SR:

Sarcoplasmic reticulum

UT:

Untrained subjects

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Center for Fundamental and Clinical Movement Science, Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education, Sporto 6, 44221, Kaunas, Lithuania

    Audrius Snieckus, Sigitas Kamandulis, Tomas Venckūnas & Albertas Skurvydas

  2. Laboratory of Human Motorics, Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education, Sporto 6, 44221, Kaunas, Lithuania

    Marius Brazaitis

  3. Coaching Science Department, Lithuanian Academy of Physical Education, Sporto 6, 44221, Kaunas, Lithuania

    Gintautas Volungevičius

Authors
  1. Audrius Snieckus
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  2. Sigitas Kamandulis
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  3. Tomas Venckūnas
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  4. Marius Brazaitis
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  5. Gintautas Volungevičius
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  6. Albertas Skurvydas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sigitas Kamandulis.

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Communicated by Toshio Moritani.

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Snieckus, A., Kamandulis, S., Venckūnas, T. et al. Concentrically trained cyclists are not more susceptible to eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage than are stretch–shortening exercise-trained runners. Eur J Appl Physiol 113, 621–628 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2470-1

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