Conclusion Overall , our findings do not support the presence of a secondary loss of strength following an acute muscle injury , and strongly suggest that strength , on average , recovers steadily over the first 3 days post-injury
Background An immediate loss of strength follows virtually all types of muscle injury but there is debate whether the initial strength loss is maximal or if a secondary loss of strength occurs during the first 3 days post-injury .
Objective The objective of this analysis was to conduct a systematic review and meta- analysis of the research literature to determine if a secondary loss of strength occurs after an injurious initiating event .
Difference in the Magnitude of Muscle Damage Between Maximal and Submaximal Eccentric Loading
This study compared maximal ( MAX-ECC ) and submaximal ( 50%-ECC ) eccentric exercise of the elbow flexors . Untrained male students ( n = 8) performed 3 sets of 10 repetitions of MAX-ECC with one arm and 50%-ECC with the other arm , separated by 4 weeks . In MAX-ECC , the elbow joint was forcibly extended from a flexed ( 90 ° ) to a full-extended position ( 180 ° ) in 3 seconds while producing maximal force . For 50%-ECC , a dumbbell set at 50 % of the maximal isometric strength at 90 ° of the elbow joint was lowered from the flexed to the extended position in 3 seconds . Changes in indicators of muscle damage were compared between the bouts by a 2-way repeated- measures analysis of variance . Changes in isometric strength , range of motion , upper arm circumference , and plasma creatine kinase activity were significantly smaller and the recovery was significantly faster for 50%-ECC compared with MAX-ECC , although the differences in the changes immediately after exercise were small . It appeared that the magnitude of initial muscle damage was similar between the bouts ; however , secondary damage was less after 50%-ECC
Conclusion Overall , our findings do not support the presence of a secondary loss of strength following an acute muscle injury , and strongly suggest that strength , on average , recovers steadily over the first 3 days post-injury
Background An immediate loss of strength follows virtually all types of muscle injury but there is debate whether the initial strength loss is maximal or if a secondary loss of strength occurs during the first 3 days post-injury .
Objective The objective of this analysis was to conduct a systematic review and meta- analysis of the research literature to determine if a secondary loss of strength occurs after an injurious initiating event .