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Muscle damage responses of the elbow flexors to four maximal eccentric exercise bouts performed every 4 weeks

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Abstract

Since little is known about the repeated bout effect of more than two eccentric exercise bouts, this study compared muscle damage responses among four exercise bouts. Fifteen young (21.8 ± 1.9 years) men performed four bouts of 30 maximal isokinetic eccentric contractions of the elbow flexors every 4 weeks. Maximal voluntary elbow flexion isometric and concentric strength, range of motion at the elbow joint (ROM), upper arm circumference, blood markers of muscle damage, and muscle soreness were measured before and up to 120 h following each bout. Changes in all measures following the second to fourth bouts were significantly (P < 0.05) smaller than those after the first bout. The decreases in strength and ROM immediately after the fourth bout were significantly (P < 0.05) smaller than other bouts. It is concluded that the first bout confers the greatest adaptation, but further adaptation is induced when the exercise is repeated more than three times.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the National Science Council of Taiwan for the financial support for this study (Contract #NSC 96-2413-H-415-011).

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Authors and Affiliations

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

    Trevor C. Chen, Hsin-Lian Chen, Ming-Ju Lin & Chang-Jun Wu

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

    Kazunori Nosaka

Authors
  1. Trevor C. Chen
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  2. Hsin-Lian Chen
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  3. Ming-Ju Lin
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  4. Chang-Jun Wu
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  5. Kazunori Nosaka
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Correspondence to Trevor C. Chen.

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Chen, T.C., Chen, HL., Lin, MJ. et al. Muscle damage responses of the elbow flexors to four maximal eccentric exercise bouts performed every 4 weeks. Eur J Appl Physiol 106, 267–275 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-1016-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-009-1016-7

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