A Comparison of Isokinetic Eccentric Exercise on Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness and Creatine Kinase in the Quadriceps Versus the Hamstrings

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Franklin, M.E.^{a; *; **} | Chamness, M.S.^{a; ***} | Chenier, T.C.^{a; ****} | Mosteller, G.C.^{a; *****} | Barrow, L.A.^{a; ******}

Affiliations: [a] East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina

Note: [*] Associate Professor, Physical Therapy Department, Belk Building, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina.

Note: [**] Address reprint requests to Mary Ellen Franklin at the Physical Therapy Program, Belk Building, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858-4353.

Note: [***] Associate Professor, Clinical Laboratory Science Department, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina.

Note: [****] Assistant Professor, Biostatistics Program, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina.

Note: [*****] Developmental Evaluation Clinic/East Carolina University School of Medicine, Irons Building, Greenville, North Carolina.

Note: [******] Nash General Hospital, Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was a difference in the amount of soreness and creatine kinase (CK) produced between isokinetic eccentric knee flexion and extension exercise. The subjects included 24 female college students with a mean age of 21.6 ± 2.0 yr. Two groups of eight subjects performed three sets of 35 isokinetic unidirectional eccentric contractions at 120 deg/sec on a Biodex isokinetic dynamometer. Group 1 performed eccentric contractions of the knee extensors (quadriceps femoris muscle) and group 2, knee flexors (hamstring muscle). Group 3 served as a control. Subjects in the exercise groups attempted to maintain the intensity of the contractions at 80% of their respective isokinetic concentric 120 deg/sec peak torque, and each set was separated by a 2-min rest period. Blood samples were collected for CK, an indicator of muscle damage, at the following intervals: pre-exercise, and 1, 24, 48, and 72 h postexercise. Perceived soreness of the quadriceps femoris muscle and hamstring muscles was assessed by a 0–10 point scale, concurrently. The highest postexercise CK and soreness values were 261, 6,037, and 87 IU/L and 0.9, 4.1, and 0 pain scale units for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Analyses of variance using a split plot factorial design found significant log CK (F = 25.0, P < 0.01) and soreness (F = 41.7, p < 0.01) differences between the three groups. Contrast-contrast testing found significantly higher elevations of log CK and soreness 48 and 72 h postexercise in group 2 when compared with group 1 (p < 0.01) and group 3(p < 0.01). This study demonstrates that after isokinetic eccentric exercise of this type the hamstring muscle is markedly more vulnerable to delayed muscle soreness and muscle damage than the quadriceps femoris muscle.

Keywords: Eccentric exercise, delayed-onset muscle soreness, creatine kinase, quadriceps/hamstring musculature

DOI: 10.3233/IES-1993-3201

Journal: Isokinetics and Exercise Science, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 68-73, 1993