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Isoload vs isokinetic eccentric exercise: a direct comparison of exercise-induced muscle damage and repeated bout effect

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Abstract

Purpose

This study compared the exercise induced muscle damage and repeated bout effect after isoload vs isokinetic eccentric supra-maximal single session.

Methods

Thirty sport science male students were randomly divided in isokinetic (IK) and isoload (IL) eccentric training. Creatin kinase (CK) serum activity, muscle soreness and strength decrement measured both in dynamic and isometric modalities were recorded at baseline, immediately after and up to 4 days following 48 supramaximal IK or IL eccentric contractions. Same protocol was repeated after 4 weeks. A three-way repeated measures ANOVA was used to detect differences in dependent variables comparing group × bout × time.

Results

No three-way interaction occurred in dependent variables. Bout × time resulted in a significant interaction in all dependent variables. Muscle damage markers resulted significantly altered compared to baseline up to 4 days. However, IL showed significantly greater CK, muscle soreness and strength deficit compared to IK. All parameters were significantly reduced after second compared to first bout. Difference between IL and IK after second bout was not overall significant.

Conclusion

IK vs IL supra-maximal eccentric contraction is showed to have different muscle damage symptoms. Protection conferred by first bout reduced muscle damage after 4 weeks and decreased difference between IL and IK.

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Acknowledgments

The research was supported by XXIV doctorate cycle fund scholarship, University of Verona.

Conflict of interest

G. Coratella and L. Bertinato declared that they have no conflict of interest.

Human and Animal Rights

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurological and Movement Science, University of Verona, Verona, Italy

    Giuseppe Coratella & Luciano Bertinato

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  1. Giuseppe Coratella
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  2. Luciano Bertinato
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Correspondence to Giuseppe Coratella.

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Coratella, G., Bertinato, L. Isoload vs isokinetic eccentric exercise: a direct comparison of exercise-induced muscle damage and repeated bout effect. Sport Sci Health 11, 87–96 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-014-0213-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-014-0213-x

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