Acute and Delayed Neuromuscular Alterations Induced by Downhill Running in Trained Trail Runners: Beneficial Effects of High-Pressure Compression Garments

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine, from a crossover experimental design, whether wearing high-pressure compression garments (CGs) during downhill treadmill running affects soft-tissue vibrations, acute and delayed responses in running economy (RE), neuromuscular function, countermovement jump, and perceived muscle soreness.Methods: Thirteen male trail runners habituated to regular eccentric training performed two separate 40-min downhill running (DHR, –8.5°) sessions while wearing either CGs (15–20 mmHg for quadriceps and calves) or control garments (CON) at a velocity associated with ∼55% of VO2max, with a set of measurements before (Pre-), after (Post-DHR), and 1 day after (Post-1D). No CGs was used within the recovery phase. Perceived muscle soreness, countermovement jump, and neuromuscular function (central and peripheral components) of knee extensors (KE) and plantar flexors (PF) were assessed. Cardiorespiratory responses (e.g., heart rate, ventilation) and RE, as well as soft-tissue vibrations (root mean square of the resultant acceleration, RMS Ar) for vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius medialis were evaluated during DHR and in Post-1D.Results: During DHR, mean values in RMS Ar significantly increased over time for the vastus lateralis only for the CON condition (+11.6%). RE and cardiorespiratory responses significantly increased (i.e., alteration) over time in both conditions. Post, small to very large central and peripheral alterations were found for KE and PF in both conditions. However, the deficit in voluntary activation (VA) was significantly lower for KE following CGs (–2.4%), compared to CON (–7.9%) conditions. No significant differences in perceived muscle soreness and countermovement jump were observed between conditions whatever the time period. Additionally, in Post-1D, the CGs condition showed reductions in neuromuscular peripheral alterations only for KE (from –4.4 to –7.7%) and perceived muscle soreness scores (–8.3%). No significant differences in cardiorespiratory and RE responses as well as countermovement jump were identified between conditions in Post-1D.Discussion: Wearing high-pressure CGs (notably on KE) during DHR was associated with beneficial effects on soft-tissue vibrations, acute and delayed neuromuscular function, and perceived muscle soreness. The use of CGs during DHR might contribute to the enhanced muscle recovery by exerting an exercise-induced “mechanical protective effect.”

Acute effect of thigh compression garment on muscle oscillations during running: impact of speed and slope

“…We observed higher value of soft tissue peak acceleration for downhill speed and lower value for uphill speed compared to flat running condition. 'Muscle tuning' can be accentuated or masked especially on downhill or uphill condition (Ehrstr€ om et al 2018). As previously observed, in our study the wore of CG improve the protective effect of 'muscle tuning' by limiting STV (Ehrstr€ om et al 2018).…”

Downhill Running: What Are The Effects and How Can We Adapt? A Narrative Review

“…For example, Garnier et al [58] reported greater decrements in isokinetic (concentric and eccentric) MVC torque of KE, accompanied by a greater occurrence of the peripheral component of neuromuscular fatigue, in-situ perceived exertion (in gluteus muscles) and delayed muscle pain (in KE, PF and gluteus) following a 45-min DR bout, compared to uphill and level running bouts performed at the same relative intensity (same reserve heart rate, HR). Immediately after DR, large reductions in isometric MVC force/torque of KE and PF muscles are generally reported, and may vary from − 14 to − 55% for KE [5,9,10,15,38,43, and from − 15 to − 25% for PF [9,15,43]. Similarly, a decline in muscle performance (expressed as MVC force/torque loss or endurance capacity) was reported during isokinetic muscle actions (tested from 0.52 to 5.2 rad s −1 and from 0.52 to 2.6 rad s −1 for concentric and eccentric modalities, respectively) [58,88,89], dynamic strength measurement such as counter movement jump [15,90] and muscle endurance test [91].…”

“…1). The reduction in isometric MVC force/torque generally peaks immediately post-DR [5,9,10,15,38,43,, whereas increases in blood CK [14,16,38,[40][41][42] Endurance training seems to limit the occurrence of muscle damage following DR [3,15]. Physical training has been shown to promote higher physiological muscle resistance to exercise due to a combination of neural (motor unit recruitment), morphological (muscle-tendon unit stiffness) and structural adaptations (muscle fascicle pennation angle, and fascicle length) [189,190].…”

“…Although wearing lower limb compression garments (CGs) after exercise has been shown to facilitate the recovery process [229][230][231], there is currently no consensus regarding their use during exercise [15,[232][233][234][235]. To date, only a few studies have investigated the impact of wearing CGs during DR [15,236,237].…”

“…[11][12][13]); (4) testing different strategies to attenuate EIMD and/or improve subsequent recovery (e.g. [14][15][16]).…”