Chronic Adaptations to Eccentric Cycling Training: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 20; no. 4; p. 2861
• Main Authors: Barreto, Renan Vieira, de Lima, Leonardo Coelho Rabello, Borszcz, Fernando Klitzke, de Lucas, Ricardo Dantas, Denadai, Benedito Sérgio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 06-02-2023; MDPI
• Subjects: Adaptation; Aerobic capacity; Bayesian analysis; Body composition; Body fat; Cycles; Digital Object Identifier; Exercise; Hypertrophy; Intervention; Investigations; Mathematical models; Meta-analysis; Metabolism; Morphology; Muscle strength; Physical fitness; Physiological effects; Physiology; Review; Software; Sports sciences; Systematic review; eccentric exercise; strength; aerobic capacity; COPD
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20042861

This study aimed to investigate the effects of eccentric cycling (ECC
) training on performance, physiological, and morphological parameters in comparison to concentric cycling (CON
) training. Searches were conducted using PubMed, Embase, and ScienceDirect. Studies comparing the effect of ECC
and CON
training regimens on performance, physiological, and/or morphological parameters were included. Bayesian multilevel meta-analysis models were used to estimate the population's mean difference between chronic responses from ECC
and CON
training protocols. Group levels and meta-regression were used to evaluate the specific effects of subjects and study characteristics. Fourteen studies were included in this review. The meta-analyses showed that ECC
training was more effective in increasing knee extensor strength, vastus lateralis fiber cross-sectional area, and six-minute walking distance compared to CON
. Moreover, ECC
was as effective as CON
in decreasing body fat percentage. CON
was more effective in increasing V˙O2max and peak power output attained during concentric incremental tests. However, group-level analyses revealed that ECC
was more effective than CON
in improving V˙O2max in patients with cardiopulmonary diseases. ECC
is a viable modality for exercise interventions aiming to improve parameters of muscle strength, hypertrophy, functional capacity, aerobic power, and body composition, with more advantages than CON
training in improving neuromuscular variables.