Bontemps, B, Louis, J, Owens, DJ, Miríc, S, Vercruyssen, F, Gruet, M and Erskine, RM (2025) Muscle soreness but not neuromuscular fatigue responses following downhill running differ according to the number of exercise bouts. European Journal of Sport Science, 25 (3). pp. 1-11. ISSN 1746-1391

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Abstract

Repeated sessions of eccentric-biased exercise promote strength gains throughneuromuscular adaptation. However, it remains unclear whether increasing thenumber of these sessions can mitigate the extent of neuromuscular fatigue andexercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) in response to a standardised eccentric-biased bout. Twelve healthy untrained adults (five females and seven males;25.1 + 4.9 years; and _VO2 max: 49.4 + 6.2 mL kg−1 min−1) completed two blocks offive downhill running (DR) sessions on a motorised treadmill at a speed equivalentto 60%–65% _VO2 max for 15–30 min. Knee extensor maximal voluntary isometrictorque (MVT), electrically evoked measures of neuromuscular fatigue (peripheraland central components), and lower-limb perceived muscle soreness (PMS) andperceived load (RPE x session duration) were assessed before and immediatelyafter a 15 min standardised DR bout at baseline and after 5 and 10 DR sessions.MVT decreased following a standardised DR bout (p < 0.01) similarly at all threetime points (−14%, −11% and −9%; p > 0.05). The same observations were foundfor all peripheral and central neuromuscular fatigue indicators after 0, 5 and 10 DRsessions. Quadriceps (but not plantar flexor or gluteus) PMS was lower after 10 DRsessions (8.7 + 8.5 mm) compared to baseline (29.6 + 22.2 mm and p = 0.01), but nodifference was observed after 5 DR sessions (15.4 + 11.9 mm and p = 0.08). Tenrepeated sessions of eccentric-biased exercise Repeated sessions of eccentric-biased exercise promote strength gains through neuromuscular adaptation. However, it remains unclear whether increasing the number of these sessions can mitigate the extent of neuromuscular fatigue and exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) in response to a standardised eccentric-biased exercise bout. Methods: Twelve healthy, untrained adults (5 females; 25.1±4.9 years; V̇O2max: 49.4±6.2 mL.kg-1.min-1) completed two blocks of five downhill running (DR) sessions on a motorised treadmill at a speed equivalent to 60-65% V̇O2max for 15-30 minutes. Knee extensor (KE) maximal voluntary isometric torque (MVT), electrically evoked measures of neuromuscular fatigue (peripheral and central components), and lower-limb perceived muscle soreness (PMS) and perceived load (RPEsession duration) were assessed before and immediately after a 15-minute standardised DR bout at baseline, and after five and 10 DR sessions. Results: MVT decreased following a standardised DR bout (p<0.01) similarly at all three time points (-14%, -11% and -9%; p>0.05). The same observations were found for all peripheral and central neuromuscular fatigue indicators after 0, 5 and 10 DR sessions. Quadriceps (but not plantar flexor or gluteus) PMS was lower after 10 DR sessions (8.7±8.5mm, respectively) compared to baseline (29.6±22.2mm; p=0.01), but not after 5 DR sessions (p=0.08). Conclusion: Ten repeated sessions of eccentric-biased exercise led to a reduction in quadriceps femoris PMS following a standardised DR bout but neither five nor 10 sessions altered the central or peripheral fatigue responses to the same standardised DR bout. These findings suggest distinct physiological adaptations to repeated eccentric-biased exercise regarding EIMD and neuromuscular fatigue.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	0913 Mechanical Engineering; 1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences; Sport Sciences
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions:	Sport and Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	Wiley
SWORD Depositor:	A Symplectic
Date Deposited:	03 Dec 2024 11:55
Last Modified:	24 Feb 2025 16:00
DOI or ID number:	10.1002/ejsc.12240
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/24976

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