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 .
Prior exercise and antioxidant supplementation: effect on oxidative stress and muscle injury
Background Both acute bouts of prior exercise ( preconditioning ) and antioxidant nutrients have been used in an attempt to attenuate muscle injury or oxidative stress in response to  resistance  exercise  .  However , most studies have focused on untrained participants rather than on athletes . The purpose of this work was to determine the independent and combined effects of antioxidant supplementation ( vitamin C + mixed tocopherols/tocotrienols ) and prior eccentric exercise in attenuating markers of skeletal muscle injury and oxidative stress in resistance trained men . Methods Thirty-six men were r and omly assigned to : no prior exercise + placebo ; no prior exercise + antioxidant ; prior exercise + placebo ; prior exercise + antioxidant . Markers of muscle/cell injury ( muscle performance , muscle soreness , C-reactive protein , and creatine kinase activity ) , as well as oxidative stress ( blood protein carbonyls and peroxides ) , were measured before and through 48 hours of exercise recovery . Results No group by time interactions were noted for any variable ( P > 0.05 ) . Time main effects were noted for creatine kinase activity , muscle soreness , maximal isometric force and peak velocity ( P < 0.0001 ) . Protein carbonyls and peroxides were relatively unaffected by exercise . Conclusion There appears to be no independent or combined effect of a prior bout of eccentric exercise or antioxidant supplementation as used here on markers of muscle injury in resistance trained men . Moreover , eccentric exercise as used in the present study results in minimal blood oxidative stress in resistance trained men . Hence , antioxidant supplementation for the purpose of minimizing blood oxidative stress in relation to eccentric exercise appears unnecessary in this population
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 .