Abstract
Simple SummaryMuscle eccentric contractions produce a higher degree of damage compared to concentric contractions. However, during sport practice (training and competition), eccentric as well as concentric actions appear at different levels. The presence of muscle-specific proteins in circulation is indicative of damage. The present report compares three sport disciplines: cycling, mainly concentric, volleyball, mainly eccentric in the legs and concentric in the arms, and basketball, mainly eccentric. The aim was to analyze the pattern of muscular injury blood markers in professional players in two moments of the season: after a training period and after a competition period. Results show that after a training period, muscle damage blood markers are higher in basketball and volleyball players, as expected due to their dominant eccentric component. However, during competition, these markers are higher in cyclists as a result of frequent eccentric actions. Therefore, the component eccentric–concentric is not defined exclusively by the sport discipline. The moment of the season (training vs. competition) has to be considered as well. This information could help sport professional to planify more specific training programs, preparations for competition, as well as post-exercise recovery.Background: Repetitive eccentric contractions can lead to higher degree of damage compared to repetitive concentric contractions. However, this type of exercise does not reproduce the real situations during the season in competitive sport disciplines. Methods: We analyzed the pattern of muscle damage blood markers in male professionals from three disciplines: cycling (n = 18), mainly concentric, vs. basketball (n = 12) and volleyball (n = 14), both mainly eccentric. Circulating muscle markers were analyzed in two moments of the regular season: after a 20-day training (no competition) period (T1) and after a 20-day period of high demanding competition (T2). Results: Blood levels of creatine kinase and myoglobin (muscle markers) increased in all groups at T2 compared to T1 as a result of competition intensity. The lower increases were noticed in cyclists at the end of both periods. Testosterone levels decreased at T2 compared to T1 in all disciplines, with lower levels found in cyclists. However, cortisol plasma levels decreased in basketball and volleyball players at T2, but increased significantly in cyclists, suggesting a limited adaptation to the effort. Conclusions: The pattern of circulating muscle markers is different depending of the demanding efforts (training vs. competition) of each particular discipline.
Highlights
Male professional players from basketball, volleyball and cycling participated in the study at 2 periods of the season: after a 20-day training period (T1) and after a 20-day period corresponding to the peak of their competitive seasons (T2)
A linear discriminant analysis was performed using creatine kinase (CK) as the main variable related to muscular damage observed for the groups of participants
total plasmatic proteins (TPP) levels decreased in cyclists at T2 compared to T1, and compared to levels in basketball and volleyball players at the end of T1 and T2
Summary
Differences in strength after eccentric and concentric training could be due to differences in neural activation [1]. Sustained and intense eccentric exercise may increase the levels of muscle damage [3]. This is characterized by an increased presence of muscle proteins, such as creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and myoglobin (Mb), in blood. Repetitive eccentric contractions can lead to higher degree of damage compared to repetitive concentric contractions This type of exercise does not reproduce the real situations during the season in competitive sport disciplines. Methods: We analyzed the pattern of muscle damage blood markers in male professionals from three disciplines: cycling (n = 18), mainly concentric, vs basketball (n = 12) and volleyball (n = 14), both mainly eccentric. Results: Blood levels of creatine kinase and myoglobin (muscle markers) increased in all groups at T2 compared to T1 as a result of competition intensity. Conclusions: The pattern of circulating muscle markers is different depending of the demanding efforts
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