Light Concentric Exercise and Heavy Eccentric Muscle Loading: Effects on CK, MRI and Markers of Inflammation

Abstract

The consequences of a single bout of heavy eccentric exercise with and without repeated concentric exercises on MRI images, serum CK levels and markers of inflammation were studied. Two groups (ECC and ECCON), each consisting of 18 male volunteers, performed 70 eccentic contractions of the quadriceps femoris muscle. The study group (ECCON) performed additional concentric contractions on a dynamometer (Cybex II+) one day before and two hours, 1, 2, 3, 6 and 9 days after eccentric loading. Serum levels of creatine kinase (CK) were examined as a function of time, and correlated with measurements of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the involved muscle groups. T2-weighted images of the thigh muscles were studied. Serum C-reactive protein, complement factors C3c and C4, haptoglobin and transferrin were measured as markers of inflammation. Additional concentric contractions (ECCON group) significantly increased CK, compared to the ECC group. However, it has no apparent effect on MRI signal intensity changes, which were of equal magnitude in the loaded vastus intermedius and deep parts of the vastus lateralis in both groups. Likewise, the serum markers of inflammation of the exercised muscles appeared to be absent. Based on MRI-images, additional concentric contractions had no statistically significant effect on muscle damage and breakdown of connective tissue. The five-fold increase in CK in the ECCON group could be a reflection of "massaging out" of the CK from the muscles into the circulation by additional concentric exercises. However, it could also be an indication for a superior sensitivity of assessing muscle fiber damage in comparison to the MRI.

Whiplash: a biochemical study of muscle injury

“…A rise of CK to 250-500 U/l has been demonstrated by some authors within 24 h [2, 6, 21], whilst others observe much higher values: 1500-8000 U/l, peaking at 72-96 h following exercise [7,15,31]. Even those studies that demonstrate a late peak, however, do show a noticeable rise in CK at 48 h (range 250-500 U/l).…”

“…Trauma to skeletal muscle causes myofibre contusion and necrosis with release of creatine kinase and elevation of total serum CK levels associated with muscle soreness [1]. Rises in serum creatine kinase have been found to occur within 6-24 h of direct muscle injury [7,36], and have been suggested to be a more sensitive indication of skeletal muscle damage than magnetic resonance (MR) images [31]. The aim of the present study is to quantify the extent of muscle damage occurring in whiplash injury by measuring serum creatine kinase concentration following whiplash injury.…”

To Compare the Effect of Vibration Therapy and Massage in Prevention of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)

“…CK is the primary enzyme regulating anaerobic metabolism and has been used as an indirect marker of DOMS in healthy individuals [43].…”

The Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen in Sports Medicine

“…1988;Staples, 1999;Rodenburg et al, 1994;Hamson et al, 1999;Mair et al, 1992;Mair et al, 1995;Sonchter et al, 1995;Takahashi et al, 1994;Nosaka & Clarkson, 1996) have employed purely eccentric muscle contractions to elicit damage. The present study used an exercise protocol that consisted of both eccentric and concentric contractions.…”