Symptoms and Functional Measures in Individuals Performing Various Exercise Intensities: A Pilot Study

Abstract

PurposeTo assess the functional limitations in activities of daily living (ADL) and level of delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) in individuals after completing various intensities of exercises with and without prior yoga stretching poses.MethodsTwelve research participants (untrained active healthy men and women) aged between 18 and 30 years were recruited from students of University of New England and randomly assigned into 2 groups (six participants each). Four muscle groups (elbow flexors, elbow extensors, knee flexors and knee extensors) were selected (one muscle group per limb) from each participant and maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) in all four selected muscles were calculated using a hand‐held Dynamometer.Participants performed eccentric exercises protocol (5 × 10 repetitions with rest time) with full active range of motion using (Ultimately Fit Adjustable Ankle Weights) their 15% of MVIC on day 1 of first week, 25% of MVIC on day 1 of third week, and 35% of MVIC on day 1 of fifth week in all four limbs (right and left upper elbows and right and left knees). Participants did not perform any exercise protocol during the week 2 and 4. In weeks 1, 3, and 5, after the eccentric exercise protocol (day 1), from day 2 to 6 the subjective (health activities of daily living (ADL) difficulty scale, visual analogue scale (VAS)) and objective assessments (pain pressure threshold (PPT), arm and thigh circumference, and active range of motion (AROM)) were carried out. Group 1 (6 participants) performed only exercise protocol whereas group 2 (6 participants) performed prior yoga stretching poses for upper and lower limbs along with above mentioned exercise protocol.ResultsGroup 2 participants has minimal pain and health activities of daily living (ADL) difficulty when compared to group 1 participants. Group 1 participants performed exercise protocol at week 5 with 35% MVIC had moderate pain (pain scale ranged 3–6 out of 10) in the elbow extensors and ADL difficulty (difficulty level scale ranged 3–6 out of 10) in pull a heavy object, carry an object with my arm above shoulder, washing opposite armpit and back, reach high shelf, ascending stairs, bend to pick up form the floor when compared to group 2 participants. There was no significant difference in the AROM and, arm and thigh circumference between both groups during entire exercise protocol.ConclusionUpper limb (extensors) muscles are more prone for DOMS when compared to lower limb muscles. Yoga stretching poses prior to eccentric exercise protocol may have effect in reducing DOMS.Support or Funding InformationFunded by Biology Department, College of Arts and Sciences, University of New England, METhis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.