Affiliations: [a] Laboratory of Exercise Physiology, School of Physical
Education, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
Note: [] Corresponding author: Felipe Romano Damas Nogueira, Laboratory
of Exercise Physiology, School of Physical Education, University of Campinas,
Av. Érico Veríssimo, 701 Zip Code 13083-851, P.O. Box 6134. Campinas,
Brazil. Tel.: +55 19 3521 6625; Fax: +55 19 3521 6750; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: The velocity at which eccentric exercise is performed may be a
factor in the extent of muscular damage. However, studies differ regarding the
exercise velocity that promotes greater muscle damage. The purpose of this
review was to analyze studies that looked into at least two different eccentric
exercise velocities and verified markers of muscle damage. Relevant studies for
this review were identified and the methodological quality of each study was
calculated based on the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Twelve
studies were included herein. The mean PEDro rating was 6.67, ranging from 5 to
7. Seven studies reported that the faster eccentric exercise velocity induced
greater muscle damage. Four studies showed no differences between velocities
and a single study has indicated a greater magnitude of muscle damage after
slow eccentric exercise. Therefore, it seems that fast eccentric exercise may
indeed be associated with greater muscle damage even though exercise velocity
per se is not the main factor involved in eccentric exercise-induced muscle
damage in both animal and human models.
