Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate how neural mechanisms operate during maximum strength training in the Quadriceps Femoris muscle group. One of the main objectives is to investigate the effects of five weeks unilateral maximum eccentric strength training on contralateral neural adaptations. The second is to investigate the effects of adding electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback into the training intervention.  Method: 20 healthy, recreationally active men and women had to undergo five weeks (three training sessions per week, resulting in 15 sessions in total) of maximum isokinetic unilateral eccentric strength training of the Quadriceps femoris muscle, with EMG biofeedback; FBG, n=10 five women and five men, or without EMG biofeedback; RTG n=10 five women and five men. The study was performed at the Laboratory of Biomechanics and Motor control, BMC Laboratory, Stockholm Sweden. Results: The results demonstrated an increase in concentric strength development in the trained leg; before 130 ± 43 Nm and after training 148 ± 46 Nm, (p=0.006). No significant increase in strength was detected for the untrained leg. Further, post hoc tests showed a tendency towards an increase in level of activation (LOA) of the trained leg in the FBG; from 69 ± 15 % before to 81 ± 13 % after training (p=0.097). No significant differences in the ecc:con EMG-ratio or in antagonist co-activation after the training intervention were shown. Conclusion: No significant difference in strength development was shown, whether training occurred with or without EMG biofeedback. However, eccentric training tended to induce transfer of neural activation to a maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) in the trained leg only in the group training with EMG biofeedback. In addition, the results revealed that eccentric strength training improved concentric strength in the trained leg but induced no transfer to the contralateral untrained leg. The benefits and prospects with incorporating feedback into training remains somewhat unknown and requires further research to obtain deeper understanding of the neural mechanisms affected by biofeedback.

The hypothesis. We supposed the fatigue and its residual phenomena generated by eccentric concentric load to have a different effect on the changes in vegetative indices during exercise of high aerobic intensity in particular. The aim of the research was to establish the effect of eccentric concentric pre-load on the changes in vegetative indices during exercise of high intensity. The tasks set were as follows: 1. To estimate the residual effect of eccentric pre-load on the changes in vegetative indices during exercise of high intensity. 2. To estimate the residual effect of eccentric-concentric pre-load on the changes in vegetative indices during exercise of high intensity. 3. To compare the residual effect of eccentric and eccentric-concentric pre-load on the vegetative indices, biochemical indices of blood during exercise of high intensity. The subjects were 9 unsportsman persons, who gave their informed consent to take part in the experiments within the present study. They were distributed to two eksperimental groups. The first group carried out eccentric pre-load and the second group carried out eccentric-concentric pre-load. The methods used were as follows: changes in the values of VO2, VCO2, heart rate (HR) and Ve indices of the subjects were established applying the test of continuously increased load and the test of constant load when pedalling the veloergometer. After testing blood of the subjects to establish lactate and Creatin-Kinase (CK) concentration in... [to full text]

Tobias Smollet's purpose in writing was twofold: to entertain the reader and to satirize man and his society. To accomplish his aim, the author created eccentric personalities in the old Elizabethan humour convention. This thesis looks at Smollet's characterizations, especially of the eccentrics, in his novels.

Unaccustomed eccentric exercise results in damage to skeletal muscle ultrastructure. One bout of eccentric exercise can induce adaptations in skeletal muscle, such that if the bout is repeated indices of muscle damage are attenuated. However, little is known about the pathways mediating these "protective" adaptations. The purpose of this thesis was to further characterize adaptations to repeated eccentric exercise and to investigate the hypothesis that increased stress protein content is associated with attenuated indices of muscle damage following the second exercise bout. Untrained male (N = 8) and untrained female (N = 8) subjects performed two bouts of unilateral, eccentric leg press and unilateral, eccentric knee extension exercises separated by 5.5 wk. Biopsies were taken from the vastus latera/is of the exercised and control (rest) leg. Blood samples and strength data were also collected. Following the second exercise bout the rise in serum CK activity, the post exercise force deficit and the extent of ultrastructural disruption as characterized by Z-disk streaming were attenuated, however ubiquitin conjugated protein content was elevated. Serum CK activity was lower in females as compared to males and ubiquitin conjugated protein content was greater in males as compared females. No gender difference was detected in the extent of Z-disk streaming or the relative magnitude of post exercise force deficit. Muscle macrophage counts were elevated over resting values 24 h post exercise bout 1 and 2 in both males and females. Whereas, neutrophils counts were only elevated over resting values following the second exercise in females. HSP72 protein content did not change in response to eccentric exercise, but it tended to be greater in males as compared to females (p=0.053). HSP27 protein content increased in response to exercise in males only, although females had greater basal content. Following the second exercise bout bcl-2 protein content was greater in females as compared to males. In conclusion, adaptations to repeated eccentric exercise are associated not only with attenuated serum CK activity and force deficit as previously described, but also with decreased ultrastructural damage, increased ubiquitin conjugated protein content and changes in stress protein content. / Thesis / Master of Science (MS)

Concentric rotating cylinder and turbulent mixing devices have been frequently used in studying mixing and particle coagulation. However, these apparatus develop simple laminar flow (concentric rotating cylinders) or do not have well-defined flow (turbulent mixing devices). In this work, the eccentric rotating cylinder apparatus was investigated to find applicability for the improved study of coagulation based on the modified analytical solution of Ballal and Rivlin. Various eccentricity ratios, rotation speeds and viscosities were simulated to obtain optimum operating conditions. Inertial forces working on the fluid increased as the eccentricity ratio and rotation speed increase. As inertial forces increase, the eddy developed in wide clearance was more skewed in the direction of rotation. Both root-mean-square velocity gradient and average principal strain-rate, were increased by increasing eccentricity ratio. avaerage principal strain-rate were linearly increased as rotation speed increases, which suggested that average prinipal strain-rate can properly represent mixing intensity. Comparison of average principal strain-rate and RMS velocity gradient revealed that RMS velocity gradient overestimated mixing intensity and its error increased as eccentricity ratio increases. This study showed that the eccentric rotating cylinder apparatus has a non-uniform velocity distribution with well-defined fluid dynamics. Therefore, the eccentric rotating cylinder apparatus can be applicable as a model flocculator. However, in order to achieve reliable model predictability, the fluid Reynolds number must be below 200.

Unaccustomed eccentric exercise can lead to decreases in muscle force production, increases in soreness, swelling, stiffness, and discomfort. The purpose of this study was to test the dose response of pomegranate juice concentrate on serum markers of muscle permeability, inflammation, and total anti-oxidant status. To test this hypothesis, 45 healthy recreationally active males (22.3 ± 0.5 y, 73.8 ± 1.71 kg, 174.9 ± 0.9 cm) were recruited from the local Austin community for participation in this study. Subjects were disqualified from participation in the study if in the past 6 months they were engaged in an exercise training program. Subjects were placed into either the placebo group, the once-daily, or twice-daily pomegranate juice concentrate supplementation group. Subjects performed a total of 8 days of supplementation. On day 4, all subjects came to the laboratory and underwent an eccentric exercise protocol consisting of 2 minutes of downhill running at -10% grade at 7.5 mph repeated 10 times, resulting in ~20 minutes of total downhill running. Thereafter, subjects performed 50 eccentric elbow extensions each lasting 5 seconds using a weight equal to their concentric one-repetition maximum. Blood measures were made pre-exercise (baseline), and 2, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours post exercise and analyzed for interleukin-6, creatine kinase, myoglobin, and total anti-oxidant status. Creatine kinase was significantly elevated at 96 hours post exercise, but with no significant differences between treatments. Myoglobin was significantly elevated above baseline at 2 and 96 hours, but with no differences between treatments. There was no effect for time or treatment on the total anti-oxidant status of the serum. Il-6 was significantly higher at 2 and 24 hours after exercise, but with no difference between treatments. The percent increase in interleukin-6 from baseline was significantly lower in the twice-daily POM supplementation group versus placebo (124.3 ± 9.4, 188.6 ± 16.0% of baseline; respectively) during the 2-96 hours following eccentric exercise, but no statistical difference between 1x and 2x or 1x and placebo was observed. This suggests that 8 days of supplementation with pomegranate juice concentrate twice a day significantly reduces the percent increase in a marker of inflammation (interleukin-6) during the 96 hours following eccentric exercise; however, neither supplement was different than the placebo in regards to all other measures. / text

An acute bout of unaccustomed eccentric exercise causes prolonged strength loss and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) for several days. Chronic dietary supplementation with polyphenols, from pomegranates, has been shown to accelerate recovery following eccentric exercise, but the optimal dose is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of dietary supplementation with different doses of pomegranate juice concentrate (PJC) on muscular strength, power, and soreness throughout a 96-hour time period following an acute bout of eccentric exercise. Healthy recreationally active males (n=45) were assigned to one of three treatment groups: Once-daily PJC (1x), twice-daily PJC (2x), or placebo (PLA) supplementation over a period of eight days. A 1x dose of PJC provided approximately 650 mg GAE. On day four of each treatment, subjects performed downhill running intervals (-10% grade) over a 40-minute period followed by 40 repetitions of eccentric elbow flexion at 100% of concentric 1-RM. Muscle soreness of arms and legs, maximal isometric strength of the elbow flexors (EF) and knee extensors (KE), vertical jump height (VJ[subscript height]) maximal cycling power (P[subscript max]), and 10-meter sprint velocity (V[subscript 10m]) were assessed pre-exercise and 2, 24, 48, 72, 96 hours post-exercise. Additionally, maximal instantaneous power (IP[subscript max]), maximal velocity (V[subscript max]), maximal torque (T[subscript max]), and torque at 0° (T0) were assessed on the inertial load power cycle pre-exercise and 24, 48, 72, 96 hours post-exercise. Throughout the 96-hours post-exercise, isometric EF strength was significantly higher in 1x and 2x groups as compared to PLA (main treatment effect, 83.6 ± 2.7% vs. 85.6 ± 1.9% vs. 78.4 ± 1.8%, respectively; p < 0.001). Isometric KE strength was significantly higher in 1x and 2x groups as compared to PLA (main treatment effect, 93.9 ± 1.5% vs. 91.6 ± 1.5% vs. 87.1 ± 1.8%, respectively; p < 0.001). Both VJ and V10m were significantly higher in 1x compared to PLA (main treatment effect, 99.9 ± 0.9% vs. 98.0 ± 1.0%, respectively, p = 0.037; 100.0 ± 0.8% vs. 97.8 ± 0.7%, respectively, p = 0.003). Muscle soreness and Pmax, were similar at all time points between groups. We conclude that dietary supplementation with 1x or 2x PJC results in higher isometric strength values compared to placebo for EF and KE muscles during the 96-hour period after an acute bout of eccentric exercise. / text

No description available.

Junctophilins (JP1 & JP2) are expressed in skeletal muscle and are the primary proteins involved in transverse (T)-tubule and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membrane apposition. During the performance of eccentric contractions, the apposition of T-tubule and SR membranes may be disrupted, resulting in excitation-contraction (EC) coupling failure and thus reduced force-producing capacity. In this study, we made three primary observations: 1) Through the first three days after the performance of 50 eccentric contractions in vivo by the left hindlimb anterior crural muscles of female mice, both JP1 and JP2 were significantly reduced by ~50 and 35%, respectively, while no reductions were observed after the performance of non-fatiguing concentric contractions; 2) following the performance of a repeated bout 50 eccentric contractions in vivo, only JP1 was immediately reduced (~30%) but recovered by 3d post-injury in tandem with the recovery of strength and EC coupling; and 3) following the performance of 10 eccentric contractions at either 15 or 35˚C by isolated mouse EDL muscle, isometric force, EC coupling, and JP1 and JP2 were only reduced after the 35˚C eccentric contractions. Regression analysis of JP1 and JP2 content in TA and EDL muscles from each set of experiments indicated that JP damage is significantly associated with early (0 – 3d) strength deficits after performing eccentric contractions (R = 0.49; P < 0.001). As a whole, the results of this study indicate that JP damage plays in role in early force deficits due to EC coupling failure following the performance of eccentric contractions.

This study determined the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) supplementation on recovery of strength following eccentric muscle injury. Female subjects (n = 21, age = 20.7 ± .10 yr, weight = 68.05 ± 10.3 kg, height = 1.69 ± .07 m) performed one bout of eccentric exercise involving the forearm flexor muscles. Subjects were given a placebo (food-grade cellulose; n = 10) or NAC supplement (10 mg·kg-1 bw·d-1; n = 11) for 7D prior to and 14D following the exercise bout. Maximal Voluntary Contraction (MVC) torque, muscle soreness, range of motion (ROM), and arm circumference were measured at pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise, and at 1D, 3D, 7D and 10D post-exercise. In addition, serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), serum creatine kinase (CK), and serum glutathione were measured. Subjects also completed a food frequency questionnaire to determine the antioxidant content of their diet. There was no difference in the loss and subsequent recovery of muscular strength between the placebo and NAC group immediately post-exercise (26.93 ± 6.4 vs. 24.95 ±9.4 Nm), 1D (27.83 ± 5.7 vs. 26.9 ± 8.5 Nm), 3D (38.35 ± 6.7 vs. 34.69 ± 10.2 Nm), 7D (46.9 ± 8.8 vs. 42.5 ± 11.8 Nm), or 10D (57.83 ± 11.7 vs. 52.92 ± 14.3 Nm) post-exercise (p = .274). In addition, there was no difference in muscle soreness (p = .752), arm circumference (p = .535), ROM (p = .539), serum CK (p = .449), serum glutathione (p = .967), or serum IL-6 (p = .360) at any time point. Scores on the food frequency questionnaire demonstrated that dietary antioxidant intake was not different between groups (41.04 ± 8.04 vs. 33.01 ± 12.6; p = .054). In conclusion, a bout of eccentric forearm flexor exercise resulted in muscle injury and a significant decrease in subjects’ ability to produce force. Supplementation with NAC had no effect on recovery of strength, arm circumference, ROM, serum CK, serum IL-6, or serum glutathione at any time point following the exercise bout. These results demonstrate that NAC has no effect on recovery of strength following eccentric muscle injury.