Affiliations: [a] Physical Education School, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil | [b] College of Physical Education and Exercise Science,
University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil | [c] Health, Physical Education and Recreation Department,
Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Contradictory results exist regarding sex-related
differences following exercise-induced muscle damage and little is known
concerning the follow-up of a traditional resistance exercise protocol. OBJECTIVE: To investigate sex differences-related time course of
recovery following a traditional strength training protocol (4 sets at 80% of 1-RM). METHODS: Ten women and ten men participated in the study. Peak
torque (PT), arm circumference (CIR), delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS),
muscle thickness (MT) and echo intensity (EI) were measured before (Pre),
immediately post (0 hours), 24, 48, and 72 hours after. RESULTS: Men demonstrated significantly greater relative strength
loss than women at 0 h (−26.8 ± 5.0% vs. −15.5 ±
12.4%; P < 0.05), with no significant difference at other time points. Men
also experienced a larger increase of CIR (p < 0.05) and MT (p < 0.05) at
0 h compared to women, with no significant difference at other time points. At
72 h, men showed a significantly greater development of DOMS (p < 0.05). EI
revealed no sex differences. CONCLUSION: Following a traditional strength training protocol the
recovery appears to be similar in untrained young women and men. Furthermore
the next training session should not take place before a rest period of at
least 72 h.
