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Differences in post-exercise T2 relaxation time changes between eccentric and concentric contractions of the elbow flexors

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Abstract

Purpose

This study compared maximal eccentric (ECC) and concentric (CON) contractions of the elbow flexors for changes in transverse relaxation time (T2) and indirect markers of muscle damage.

Methods

Twelve young men performed five sets of six maximal isokinetic (30°/s) ECC with one arm followed by CON with the other arm. Magnetic resonance images to assess T2 and cross-sectional area (CSA) of biceps brachii, brachialis, and brachioradialis, and measurements of maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) torque, range of motion (ROM), and muscle soreness were taken before, immediately after, and 1, 3, and 5 days after each exercise.

Results

MVC torque and ROM decreased greater after ECC than CON (p < 0.05), and muscle soreness developed only after ECC. Biceps brachii and brachialis CSA increased immediately after CON, but delayed increases in brachialis CSA were found only after ECC (p < 0.05). T2 of the muscles increased greater after CON (27–34 %) than ECC (16–18 %) immediately post-exercise (p < 0.05), but returned to baseline by 1 day after CON. The biceps brachii and brachialis T2 increased by 9–29 % at 1–5 days after ECC (p < 0.05). The post-ECC T2 changes showed no significant correlations with the changes in MVC torque, muscle soreness, and CSA, but the T2 increase immediately post-ECC was correlated with the peak T2 in 1–5-day post-ECC (r = 0.63, p < 0.05).

Conclusion

These results suggest that muscle activity during exercise was lower in ECC than CON, and the T2 changes after ECC do not necessarily relate to the changes in other indirect markers of muscle damage.

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Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

CK:

Creatine kinase

CON:

Concentric contraction

CSA:

Cross-sectional area

DOMS:

Delayed onset muscle soreness

ECC:

Eccentric contraction

EMG:

Electromyography

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

MVC:

Maximal voluntary isometric contraction

ROI:

Region of interest

ROM:

Range of motion

T2:

Transverse relaxation time

VAS:

Visual analog scale

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B; 20614473).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Bioscience and Applied Chemistry, Hosei University, 3-7-2, Kajino, Koganei, Tokyo, 184-8584, Japan

    Eisuke Ochi

  2. Faculty of Modern and Life, Teikyo Heisei University, 4-21-2, Nakano, Tokyo, 164-8530, Japan

    Yosuke Tsuchiya

  3. Centre for Exercise and Sports Science Research, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA, 6027, Australia

    Kazunori Nosaka

Authors
  1. Eisuke Ochi
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  2. Yosuke Tsuchiya
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  3. Kazunori Nosaka
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Eisuke Ochi.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Communicated by William J. Kraemer.

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Ochi, E., Tsuchiya, Y. & Nosaka, K. Differences in post-exercise T2 relaxation time changes between eccentric and concentric contractions of the elbow flexors. Eur J Appl Physiol 116, 2145–2154 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3462-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-016-3462-3

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