Appropriateness of indirect markers of muscle damage following lower limbs eccentric-biased exercises: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Abstract

Purpose The aim of this review was to (1) characterize the time-course of markers of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) based on the level of maximal voluntary contraction torque loss at 24-48h post-exercise (MVCloss24-48h), (2) identify factors (e.g., exercise and population characteristics) affecting the level of MVCloss24-48h, and (3) evaluate the appropriateness of EIMD markers as indicators of MVCloss24-48h. Methods Magnitude of change of each EIMD markers was normalized using the standardized mean differences method to compare the results from different studies. Time-course of EIMD markers were characterized according to three levels of MVCloss24-48h based on a clustering analysis of the 141 studies included. Association between MVCloss24-48h levels and participant´s characteristics or exercise type/modalities were assessed. Meta-regressions were performed to investigate the associations between MVCloss24-48h and EIMD markers changes at <6h, 24h, 48h, 72h and >96h after exercise. Results Time-course of EIMD markers recovery differs between levels of MVCloss24-48h. Training status and exercise type/modality were associated with MVCloss24-48h level (p<0.05). MVCloss24-48h was correlated to changes in myoglobin concentration (<6h), jump height (24h) and range of motion (48h) (p<0.001). Conclusion As the exercise could differently affect markers as function of the EIMD severity (i.e., MVCloss24-48h levels), different markers should be used as function of the timing of measurement. Mb concentration should be used during the first hours after the exercise (<6h), whereas jump height (24h) and range of motion (48h) could be used as surrogate for maximal voluntary contraction later. Moreover, training status and exercise type/modality could influence the magnitude of MVCloss24-48h.

Neuromuscular and Metabolic Responses during Repeated Bouts of Loaded Downhill Walking

“…In line with previous studies (29,30) that compared two loaded walking bouts (slope, −28%; velocity, 5 km·h −1 ; load, 10% of body mass, 1 wk apart), the results of the present study showed a protective effect of Ex1 on Ex2 (i.e., RBE). Similar to these previous studies, we found a prolonged MVC torque loss (i.e., >24 h after the exercise) of the knee extensors after Ex1 (~20%–25%; moderate muscle damage (2,3)), whereas MVC torque had already recovered 24 h after Ex2. Moreover, muscle soreness, another marker of EIMD (1,3), was less affected after Ex2 compared with Ex1.…”

“…Participants performed 2 bouts of downhill walking on a treadmill for 45 min while carrying a load equivalent to 30% of their body mass (treadmill gradient: −25 %, speed: 4.5 km·h −1 ) separated by 14 d (top). During exercises, rating of perceived exertion (red), gas exchanges (green), heart rate (blue), muscle activity (orange) of the Rectus femoris (1), Vastus lateralis (2) and Biceps femoris (3), and the spatio-temporal parameters (red) were obtained during walking.…”

“…xercise including unaccustomed eccentric (i.e., lengthening) contractions induces muscle damage that is characterized by a wide range of symptoms such as a prolonged reduction of muscle force and power production (i.e., muscle function) after exercise (1,2). Moreover, the reduction in muscle function is accompanied by the changes in other indirect markers of exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD; e.g., muscle soreness, increases in muscle stiffness and proteins in the blood, or reduced range of motion), which can last for several days to weeks after exercise (3). However, when a secondary bout of eccentric exercise is performed, muscle damage is much less, probably due to the neuromuscular (NM) system becomes less susceptible to EIMD (4,5).…”

Common Markers of Muscle Damage Are Associated with Divergent Gene Expression Patterns after Eccentric Contractions

“…In agreement with the present findings, previous studies have generally found either low or no significant correlations between these commonly used markers. For example, a recent meta-analysis of 141 lower limb ECC studies found that the reduction in MVC was poorly associated (r 2 < 0.28) with soreness and likewise poorly correlated (r 2 < 0.21) to serum CK activity (31). The majority of previous studies have similarly shown no significant relationships between muscle soreness and CK activity after ECC (32)(33)(34)(35), although notably Kim et al (36) did find that CK activity and soreness were weakly correlated (r 2 < 0.11) in a cohort of high-responding subjects.…”

The Role of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Their Lipid Mediators on Skeletal Muscle Regeneration: A Narrative Review

“…A common approach to investigating the muscle regeneration capacity is by inducing damage through repeated efforts of maximal to near-maximal eccentric lengthening contractions—a force applied to the muscle that exceeds the torque produced by the muscle itself [ 90 ]. The high mechanical stress induced by these contractions leads to focal microlesions of the sarcomeres as well as the extracellular matrix and connective tissue of the muscle fibers [ 91 ], which manifests itself by a range of clinical symptoms such as delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS), muscle stiffness, swelling, decreased proprioceptive function, and loss in maximal force-generating capacity [ 92 ].…”