Downhill running impairs peripheral but not central neuromuscular indices in elbow flexor muscles

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a 1-h downhill running exercise on the elbow flexor muscles’ neuromuscular functions. Seventeen adults (Control [CON]: n = 9; Experimental [EXP]: n = 8) completed this study. The CON rested for 30 min while the EXP performed the downhill running. Before, 10 min, 24 h, and 48 h after the interventions, dependent variables (knee extensor muscle soreness, elbow flexion and knee extension isometric strength, elbow flexion resting twitch and voluntary activation [VA], and the biceps surface electromyography [EMG] amplitude) were measured. Knee extensor muscle soreness was significantly greater in the EXP than the CON group following the intervention throughout the entire 48 h. This was accompanied by the greater decline in the knee extension strength in the EXP than the CON (mean ± SD: -6.9 ± 3.4% vs. 1.0 ± 3.2%, p = 0.044). The elbow flexion strength, VA, and EMG amplitude were not affected by the exercise. However, the decline of the elbow flexion resting twitch was greater in the EXP than the CON (−19.6 ± 6.3% vs. 8.7 ± 5.9%, p = 0.003). Therefore, the downhill running impaired the remote elbow flexor muscles at a peripheral level.

Keywords

Muscle damage / Twitch interpolation / Voluntary activation / Surface EMG / Non-local effect

References

[[1]] R.G. Eston, J. Mickleborough, V. Baltzopoulos. Eccentric activation and muscle damage: biomechanical and physiological considerations during downhill running. Br J Sports Med, 29 (2) ( 1995), pp. 89-94, DOI: 10.1136/bjsm.29.2.89

[[2]] F.L. Buczek, P.R. Cavanagh. Stance phase knee and ankle kinematics and kinetics during level and downhill running. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 22 (5) ( 1990), pp. 669-677, DOI: 10.1249/00005768-199010000-00019

[[3]] R.B. Armstrong, R.W. Ogilvie, J.A. Schwane. Eccentric exercise-induced injury to rat skeletal muscle. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exerc Physiol, 54 (1) ( 1983), pp. 80-93, DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1983.54.1.80

[[4]] L.C.R. Lima, K. Nosaka, T.C. Chen, R.S. Pinto, C.C. Greco, B.S. Denadai. Decreased running economy is not associated with decreased force production capacity following downhill running in untrained, young men. Eur J Sport Sci, 21 (1) ( 2021), pp. 1-9, DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2020.1727570

[[5]] K. Hayashi, M.E. Leary, S.J. Roy, J. Laosiripisan, E.P. Pasha, H. Tanaka. Recovery from strenuous downhill running in young and older physically active adults. Int J Sports Med, 40 (11) ( 2019), pp. 696-703, DOI: 10.1055/a-0951-0017

[[6]] P.M. Clarkson, I. Tremblay. Exercise-induced muscle damage, repair, and adaptation in humans. J Appl Physiol, 65 (1) ( 1988), pp. 1-6. ( 1985). DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1988.65.1.1

[[7]] S. Goodall, K. Thomas, M. Barwood, et al.. Neuromuscular changes and the rapid adaptation following a bout of damaging eccentric exercise. Acta Physiol (Oxf), 220 (4) ( 2017), pp. 486-500, DOI: 10.1111/apha.12844

[[8]] V. Doguet, K. Nosaka, M. Plautard, et al.. Neuromuscular changes and damage after isoload versus isokinetic eccentric exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 48 (12) ( 2016), pp. 2526-2535, DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001042

[[9]] O. Prasartwuth, T.J. Allen, J.E. Butler, S.C. Gandevia, J.L. Taylor. Length-dependent changes in voluntary activation, maximum voluntary torque and twitch responses after eccentric damage in humans. J Physiol, 571 (Pt 1) ( 2006), pp. 243-252, DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2005.101600

[[10]] O. Prasartwuth, J.L. Taylor, S.C. Gandevia. Maximal force, voluntary activation and muscle soreness after eccentric damage to human elbow flexor muscles. J Physiol, 567 (Pt 1) ( 2005), pp. 337-348, DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2005.087767

[[11]] D. Janecki, A. Jaskolska, J. Marusiak, R. Andrzejewska, A. Jaskolski. Twitch mechanical properties after repeated eccentric exercise of the elbow flexors. Appl Physiol Nutr Metabol, 39 (1) ( 2014), pp. 74-81, DOI: 10.1139/apnm-2013-0097

[[12]] M. Behrens, A. Mau-Moeller, S. Bruhn. Effect of exercise-induced muscle damage on neuromuscular function of the quadriceps muscle. Int J Sports Med, 33 (8) ( 2012), pp. 600-606, DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1304642

[[13]] R. Souron, K. Nosaka, M. Jubeau. Changes in central and peripheral neuromuscular fatigue indices after concentric versus eccentric contractions of the knee extensors. Eur J Appl Physiol, 118 (4) ( 2018), pp. 805-816, DOI: 10.1007/s00421-018-3816-0

[[14]] X. Ye, T.W. Beck, J.M. DeFreitas, N.P. Wages. Acute effects of dynamic exercises on the relationship between the motor unit firing rate and the recruitment threshold. Hum Mov Sci, 40 (4) ( 2015), pp. 24-37, DOI: 10.1016/j.humov.2014.11.011

[[15]] X. Ye, T.W. Beck, N.P. Wages. Influences of dynamic exercise on force steadiness and common drive. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact, 14 (3) ( 2014), pp. 377-386

[[16]] J.G. Semmler. Motor unit activity after eccentric exercise and muscle damage in humans. Acta Physiol (Oxf), 210 (4) ( 2014), pp. 754-767, DOI: 10.1111/apha.12232

[[17]] J. Duchateau, R.M. Enoka. Neural control of lengthening contractions. J Exp Biol, 219 (Pt 2) ( 2016), pp. 197-204, DOI: 10.1242/jeb.123158

[[18]] I. Halperin, D.W. Chapman, D.G. Behm. Non-local muscle fatigue: effects and possible mechanisms. Eur J Appl Physiol, 115 (10) ( 2015), pp. 2031-2048, DOI: 10.1007/s00421-015-3249-y

[[19]] X. Ye, T.W. Beck, N.P. Wages, J.C. Carr. Sex comparisons of non-local muscle fatigue in human elbow flexors and knee extensors. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interact, 18 (1) ( 2018), pp. 92-99

[[20]] W. Miller, M. Kang, S. Jeon, X. Ye. A meta-analysis of non-local heterologous muscle fatigue. J Trainol, 8 (1) ( 2019), pp. 9-18, DOI: 10.17338/trainology.8.1_9

[[21]] N. Hedayatpour, Z. Izanloo, D. Falla. The effect of eccentric exercise and delayed onset muscle soreness on the homologous muscle of the contralateral limb. J Electromyogr Kinesiol, 41 ( 2018), pp. 154-159, DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2018.06.003

[[22]] P. Svensson, S. Minoshima, A. Beydoun, T.J. Morrow, K.L. Casey. Cerebral processing of acute skin and muscle pain in humans. J Neurophysiol, 78 (1) ( 1997), pp. 450-460, DOI: 10.1152/jn.1997.78.1.450

[[23]] K.J. Brandenberger, G.L. Warren, C.P. Ingalls, J.S. Otis,J.A. Doyle. Downhill running impairs activation and strength of the elbow flexors

[[24]] [published online ahead of print, 2019 Mar 15]. J Strength Cond Res ( 2019), DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003111

[[25]] J. Cohen.Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences. (2^nd ed.), Lawrence Earlbaum Associates, Hillsdale, NJ, USA ( 1988)

[[26]] C.R. Magnus, T.S. Barss, J.L. Lanovaz, J.P. Farthing. Effects of cross-education on the muscle after a period of unilateral limb immobilization using a shoulder sling and swathe. J Appl Physiol, 109 (6) ( 2010), pp. 1887-1894, DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00597.2010. (1985)

[[27]] S.M. Fox 3rd,J.P. Naughton, W.L. Haskell. Physical activity and the prevention of coronary heart disease. Ann Clin Res, 3 (6) ( 1971), pp. 404-432

[[28]] E.C. Huskisson. Measurement of pain. Lancet, 2 (7889) ( 1974), pp. 1127-1131, DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(74)90884-8

[[29]] P.A. Merton. Voluntary strength and fatigue. J Physiol, 123 (3) ( 1954), pp. 553-564. DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.1954.sp005070

[[30]] D.G. Behm, D.M. St-Pierre, D. Perez. Muscle inactivation: assessment of interpolated twitch technique. J Appl Physiol, 81 (5) ( 1996), pp. 2267-2273. DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1996.81.5.2267. (1985)

[[31]] G.M. Allen, S.C. Gandevia, D.K. McKenzie. Reliability of measurements of muscle strength and voluntary activation using twitch interpolation. Muscle Nerve, 18 (6) ( 1995), pp. 593-600, DOI: 10.1002/mus.880180605

[[32]] H. Hermens, B. Freriks, R. Merletti, et al.. SENIAM European Recommendations for Surface ElectroMyoGraphy: Result of the SENIAM Project. Roessingh Research and Development, Enschede, The Netherlands ( 1999)

[[33]] S. Broadbent, J.J. Rousseau, R.M. Thorp, S.L. Choate, F.S. Jackson, D.S. Rowlands. Vibration therapy reduces plasma IL6 and muscle soreness after downhill running. Br J Sports Med, 44 (12) ( 2010), pp. 888-894, DOI: 10.1136/bjsm.2008.052100

[[34]] R.J. Maughan, A.E. Donnelly, M. Gleeson, P.H. Whiting, K.A. Walker, P.J. Clough. Delayed-onset muscle damage and lipid peroxidation in man after a downhill run. Muscle Nerve, 12 (4) ( 1989), pp. 332-336, DOI: 10.1002/mus.880120412

[[35]] W.C. Byrnes, P.M. Clarkson, J.S. White, S.S. Hsieh, P.N. Frykman, R.J. Maughan. Delayed onset muscle soreness following repeated bouts of downhill running. J Appl Physiol, 59 (3) ( 1985), pp. 710-715, DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1985.59.3.710. 1985

[[36]] J.A. Schwane, S.R. Johnson, C.B. Vandenakker, R.B. Armstrong. Delayed-onset muscular soreness and plasma CPK and LDH activities after downhill running. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 15 (1) ( 1983), pp. 51-56

[[37]] J.R. Day, H.B. Rossiter, E.M. Coats, A. Skasick, B.J. Whipp.The maximally attainable VO2 during exercise in humans: the peak vs. maximum issue. J Appl Physiol, 95 (5) ( 2003), pp. 1901-1907, DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00024.2003. (1985)

[[38]] K.A. Ertel, J.E. Hallam, A.R. Hillman. The effects of training status and exercise intensity on exercise-induced muscle damage. J Sports Med Phys Fit, 60 (3) ( 2020), pp. 449-455, DOI: 10.23736/S0022-4707.19.10151-X

[[39]] X. Ye, T.W. Beck, N.P. Wages. Reduced susceptibility to eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage in resistance-trained men is not linked to resistance training-related neural adaptations. Biol Sport, 32 (3) ( 2015), pp. 199-205, DOI: 10.5604/20831862.1150301

[[40]] B. Bontemps, F. Vercruyssen, M. Gruet, J. Louis. Downhill running: what are the effects and how can we adapt? A narrative Review. Sports Med, 50 (12) ( 2020), pp. 2083-2110, DOI: 10.1007/s40279-020-01355-z

[[41]] D. Levine, M.A. Colston, M.W. Whittle, E.C. Pharo, D.J. Marcellin-Little. Sagittal lumbar spine position during standing, walking, and running at various gradients. J Athl Train, 42 (1) ( 2007), pp. 29-34

[[42]] G. Vernillo, M. Giandolini, W.B. Edwards, et al.. Biomechanics and physiology of uphill and downhill running. Sports Med, 47 (4) ( 2017), pp. 615-629, DOI: 10.1007/s40279-016-0605-y

[[43]] C. Minahan, S. Joyce, A.C. Bulmer, N. Cronin, S. Sabapathy. The influence of estradiol on muscle damage and leg strength after intense eccentric exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol, 115 (7) ( 2015), pp. 1493-1500, DOI: 10.1007/s00421-015-3133-9

[[44]] K.R. Heavens, T.K. Szivak, D.R. Hooper, et al.. The effects of high intensity short rest resistance exercise on muscle damage markers in men and women. J Strength Condit Res, 28 (4) ( 2014), pp. 1041-1049, DOI: 10.1097/jsc.0000000000000236

[[45]] D.L. MacIntyre, W.D. Reid, D.M. Lyster, D.C. McKenzie. Different effects of strenuous eccentric exercise on the accumulation of neutrophils in muscle in women and men. Eur J Appl Physiol, 81 (1-2) ( 2000), pp. 47-53, DOI: 10.1007/pl00013796

The authors would like to thank all participants for their time and effort.