(108) Bilateral Sensory Deficits and Widespread Hyperalgesia following Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness of the Quadriceps

Abstract

Unaccustomed eccentric exercise leads to delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). While DOMS has been demonstrated to result in altered postural control which may result in further injury, very little is known about the somatosensory changes at the knee in presence of DOMS of the quadriceps. DOMS elicited in this muscle was hypothesized to result in bilateral induced mechanical hyperalgesia, measured via pressure pain threshold (PPT) and hypoesthesia, evidenced by deficits in both vibration perception threshold (VPT) and proprioception which was measured via threshold to detection of passive motion (TDPM). Thirty participants (15 males and 15 females) took part in the study. Eccentric exercise consisted of 10 sets of 10 maximum eccentric quadriceps contractions of the dominant knee. Assessments consisted of pain intensity, PPT, VPT and, TDPM at 3 different assessment time points: (1) pre-eccentric exercise; (2) immediately and (3) 48 hours after eccentric exercise. Pain intensity increased and PPT decreased at 48 hours. VPT increased ipsilaterally both immediately and 48 hours after exercise. TDPM increased on the ipsilateral side immediately and bilaterally at 48 hours. Females demonstrated greater impairment in TDPM than males at 48 hours. Widespread hyperalgesia, ipsilaterally impaired VPT and bilaterally impaired proprioception were demonstrated in the presence of DOMS. Athletes performing strenuous lower limb eccentric exercise in training leading to DOMS may experience increased pain and hypoesthesia which may predispose them to lower quarter joint trauma. Unaccustomed eccentric exercise leads to delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). While DOMS has been demonstrated to result in altered postural control which may result in further injury, very little is known about the somatosensory changes at the knee in presence of DOMS of the quadriceps. DOMS elicited in this muscle was hypothesized to result in bilateral induced mechanical hyperalgesia, measured via pressure pain threshold (PPT) and hypoesthesia, evidenced by deficits in both vibration perception threshold (VPT) and proprioception which was measured via threshold to detection of passive motion (TDPM). Thirty participants (15 males and 15 females) took part in the study. Eccentric exercise consisted of 10 sets of 10 maximum eccentric quadriceps contractions of the dominant knee. Assessments consisted of pain intensity, PPT, VPT and, TDPM at 3 different assessment time points: (1) pre-eccentric exercise; (2) immediately and (3) 48 hours after eccentric exercise. Pain intensity increased and PPT decreased at 48 hours. VPT increased ipsilaterally both immediately and 48 hours after exercise. TDPM increased on the ipsilateral side immediately and bilaterally at 48 hours. Females demonstrated greater impairment in TDPM than males at 48 hours. Widespread hyperalgesia, ipsilaterally impaired VPT and bilaterally impaired proprioception were demonstrated in the presence of DOMS. Athletes performing strenuous lower limb eccentric exercise in training leading to DOMS may experience increased pain and hypoesthesia which may predispose them to lower quarter joint trauma.