Effect of Alcohol Consumption on Recovery From Eccentric Exercise Induced Muscle Damage in Females

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the effects of alcohol consumption on recovery of muscle force when consumed immediately postexercise in young females. Eight young women completed 300 maximal eccentric actions of the quadriceps femoris muscle on an isokinetic dynamometer on two occasions in a randomized, cross-over design after which an alcoholic beverage (0.88g ethanol/kg body weight) or an iso-caloric placebo was consumed. Maximal isokinetic (concentric and eccentric) torque and isometric tension produced across the knee were measured in both the exercised and control leg predamage, 36 hr post, and 60 hr post damage. Venous blood creatine kinase (CK) activity and muscle soreness ratings were taken before damage and once per day to 60 hr post damage. Significant differences were observed between the exercised and control leg for maximal concentric, and eccentric torque and isometric tension (p < .05). A near significant Treatment × Time interaction was observed for isometric tension (p = .077), but not for concentric or eccentric torque. No main effects of treatment (alcohol) or interactions with Time × Leg or Leg × Treatment were observed. Perceived muscle soreness during box stepping and squatting showed significant time effects (p < .05), and CK activity did not significantly change. Our results indicate that the consumption of 0.88g ethanol/kg body weight following eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage does not affect recovery in the days following damage in females.

The Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Recovery Following Resistance Exercise: A Systematic Review

“…Of the retrieved studies, 10 took into account at least one biological measure [9,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26], 11 took into account at least one physical measure [9,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]27,28] and cognitive function only one [24].…”

“…The retrieved biological measures include creatine kinase (CK) [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25], heart rate [19,26], lactate [19,26], blood glucose [9], urine measures [24], cortisol [19,21,24,26], testosterone [19,21,24,26], estradiol [26], sexual hormone binding globulin (SHBG) [21,26], leukocytes and cytokines [19,21,22], C-reactive protein (CRP) [24], plasma amino acids [9], intracellular signaling proteins and rates of muscle protein synthesis (MPS) [9] and calcium (Ca 2+ ) [25]. The physical measures include force [18,[20][21][22][23][24][25]27,28], power [19,21,24,28], muscular endurance [25], soreness [18,…”

“…The maximum score a study can receive is 32, with higher scores indicating better quality. The studies were then divided into groups and marked as 'high quality' (score [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32], 'moderate quality' (score [19][20][21][22], 'lower quality' (score [16][17][18] or 'poor quality' (<14) (Supplementary File S1 and S2). Kendall Tau correlation coefficient statistical method was used to determine inter-rater reliability.…”

“…Eight studies included CK measurement [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25]. All the retrieved studies showed that CK increases following each RE protocol in both ALC and NO-ALC conditions showing a time interaction with RE.…”

“…Nine studies have examined the effects of post-exercise ALC consumption on force [18,[20][21][22][23][24][25]27,28]. McLeay et al [23] evaluated maximal isometric, concentric and eccentric muscular contractions of the quadriceps femoris using an isokinetic dynamometer for both lower limbs using one lower limb as control. A significant difference between lower limbs was present post-treatment (exercised vs. non-exercised lower limb) up to 60 h post-exercise regarding maximal isometric tension, concentric and eccentric torque but no difference was observed between the ALC and the NO-ALC condition.…”