Acute adaptation to low volume eccentric exercise

D. Paddon-Jones, P. J. Abernethy

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

45 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Many symptoms of eccentric muscle damage can be substantially reduced if a similar eccentric bout is repeated within several weeks of the initial bout. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a nondamaging, low repetition, low volume eccentric exercise bout could also provide a protective/adaptive effect. Methods: Subjects were assigned to a control (CON), eccentric exercise (ECC), or low volume familiarized eccentric exercise group (LV+ECC). Before the study, the LV+ECC group performed six maximal eccentric contractions during two familiarization sessions. The main eccentric bout targeted the elbow flexor muscle group and consisted of 36 maximal eccentric contractions. Muscle soreness, upper arm girth, elbow angle, creatine kinase activity, isometric torque, and concentric and eccentric torque at 0.52 and 3.14 rad·s-1 were assessed 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 10 d postexercise. Results: No evidence of muscle damage was observed as a result of the low volume eccentric bouts. Nevertheless, with the exception of muscle soreness and concentric torque, all variables recovered more rapidly in the LV+ECC group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Adaptation to eccentric exercise can occur in the absence of significant muscle damage. Exposure to a small number of nondamaging eccentric contractions can significantly improve recovery after a subsequent damaging eccentric bout. Furthermore, this adaptation appears to be mode-specific and not applicable to concentric contractions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1213-1219
Number of pages7
JournalMedicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
Volume33
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Creatine kinase
  • DOMS
  • Isokinetic
  • Repeated-bout
  • Strength

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Acute adaptation to low volume eccentric exercise'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this