Comparison between maximal lengthening and shortening contractions for biceps brachii muscle oxygenation and hemodynamics

• Published in: Journal of applied physiology (1985) Vol. 109; no. 3; pp. 710 - 720
• Main Authors: MUTHALIB, Makii, LEE, Hoseong, MILLET, Guillaume Y, FERRARI, Marco, NOSAKA, Kazunori
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bethesda, MD American Physiological Society 01-09-2010
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Creatine Kinase - blood; Cross-Over Studies; Exercise; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hemodynamics; Hemoglobins - metabolism; Humans; Isometric Contraction; Male; Muscle, Skeletal - blood supply; Muscle, Skeletal - metabolism; Muscular system; Oxidation; Oxygen; Oxygen - blood; Oxygen Consumption; Oxyhemoglobins - metabolism; Pain - etiology; Pain Measurement; Physiology; Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared; Time Factors; Tissues; Torque; Upper Extremity; Young Adult; near-infrared spectroscopy; Shortening; tissue oxygenation index; Striated muscle; Muscle contraction; Microcirculation; Tissue; Vertebrata; Mammalia; muscle soreness; Biceps brachii muscle; muscle damage; Hemodynamics; Oxygenation; Comparative study
• ISSN: 8750-7587; 1522-1601
• DOI: 10.1152/japplphysiol.01297.2009

Eccentric contractions (ECC) require lower systemic oxygen (O2) and induce greater symptoms of muscle damage than concentric contractions (CON); however, it is not known if local muscle oxygenation is lower in ECC than CON during and following exercise. This study compared between ECC and CON for changes in biceps brachii muscle oxygenation [tissue oxygenation index (TOI)] and hemodynamics [total hemoglobin volume (tHb)=oxygenated-Hb+deoxygenated-Hb], determined by near-infrared spectroscopy over 10 sets of 6 maximal contractions of the elbow flexors of 10 healthy subjects. This study also compared between ECC and CON for changes in TOI and tHb during a 10-s sustained and 30-repeated maximal isometric contraction (MVC) task measured immediately before and after and 1-3 days following exercise. The torque integral during ECC was greater (P<0.05) than that during CON by approximately 30%, and the decrease in TOI was smaller (P<0.05) by approximately 50% during ECC than CON. Increases in tHb during the relaxation phases were smaller (P<0.05) by approximately 100% for ECC than CON; however, the decreases in tHb during the contraction phases were not significantly different between sessions. These results suggest that ECC utilizes a lower muscle O2 relative to O2 supply compared with CON. Following exercise, greater (P<0.05) decreases in MVC strength and increases in plasma creatine kinase activity and muscle soreness were evident 1-3 days after ECC than CON. Torque integral, TOI, and tHb during the sustained and repeated MVC tasks decreased (P<0.01) only after ECC, suggesting that muscle O2 demand relative to O2 supply during the isometric tasks was decreased after ECC. This could mainly be due to a lower maximal muscle mass activated as a consequence of muscle damage; however, an increase in O2 supply due to microcirculation dysfunction and/or inflammatory vasodilatory responses after ECC is recognized.