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Low-intensity eccentric contractions attenuate muscle damage induced by subsequent maximal eccentric exercise of the knee extensors in the elderly

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Abstract

This study investigated whether low-intensity eccentric contractions of the knee extensors would attenuate the magnitude of muscle damage induced by maximal eccentric exercise of the same muscle performed 7 days later using elderly individuals. Healthy older men (66.4 ± 4.6 years) were assigned to control or experimental (Exp) group (n = 13 per group). The control group performed six sets of ten maximal eccentric contractions (MaxECC) of the knee extensors of non-dominant leg. The Exp group performed six sets of ten low-intensity eccentric contractions of the knee extensors on a leg extension machine by lowering a weight of 10 % maximal voluntary isometric knee extension strength (10 %ECC) 7 days prior to MaxECC. Changes in maximal voluntary isokinetic concentric torque (MVC-CON), angle at peak torque, range of motion (ROM), upper thigh circumference, muscle soreness, plasma creatine kinase activity and myoglobin (Mb) concentration and B-mode ultrasound echo-intensity before and for 5 days after MaxECC were compared between groups by a mixed factor ANOVA. No significant changes in any variables were observed following 10 %ECC. Following MaxECC, all variables changed significantly, and changes in all variables except for angle at peak torque were significantly different between groups. MVC-CON and ROM decreased smaller and recovered faster (P < 0.05) for Exp than control group, and changes in other variables were smaller (P < 0.05) for Exp group compared with control group. These results suggest that preconditioning knee extensor muscles with low-intensity eccentric contractions was effective for attenuating muscle damage induced by subsequent MaxECC of the knee extensors for elderly individuals.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Miss. Jui-Hsin Lin for her assistance in data collection and analysis. The authors acknowledge that this research was supported by the National Science Council, TAIWAN (99-2410-H-415-037-MY2). The authors declare that the whole experiments comply with the current laws of Taiwan where the study was carried out.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no potential conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Education, National Chiayi University, 85 Wenlong Village, Minsyong Township 62103, Chiayi County, Taiwan

    Trevor C. Chen, Wei-Chin Tseng, Guan-Ling Huang & Hsin-Lian Chen

  2. Graduate Institute of Coaching Science, National Taiwan Sport University, Taoyuan County, Taiwan

    Wei-Chin Tseng

  3. Department of Physical Education and Health, Taipei Physical Education College, Taipei, Taiwan

    Kou-Wei Tseng

  4. School of Exercise and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia

    Kazunori Nosaka

Authors
  1. Trevor C. Chen
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  2. Wei-Chin Tseng
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  3. Guan-Ling Huang
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  4. Hsin-Lian Chen
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  5. Kou-Wei Tseng
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  6. Kazunori Nosaka
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Correspondence to Trevor C. Chen.

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Communicated by Toshio Moritani.

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Chen, T.C., Tseng, WC., Huang, GL. et al. Low-intensity eccentric contractions attenuate muscle damage induced by subsequent maximal eccentric exercise of the knee extensors in the elderly. Eur J Appl Physiol 113, 1005–1015 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2517-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-012-2517-3

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