title: The effects of eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage on running kinematics at different speeds.
abstract: This study investigated the effects of knee localised muscle damage on running kinematics at varying speeds. Nineteen young women (23.2 ± 2.8 years; 164 ± 8 cm; 53.6 ± 5.4 kg), performed a maximal eccentric muscle damage protocol (5 × 15) of the knee extensors and flexors of both legs at 60 rad · s(-1). Lower body kinematics was assessed during level running on a treadmill at three speeds pre- and 48 h after. Evaluated muscle damage indices included isometric torque, muscle soreness and serum creatine kinase activity. The results revealed that all indices changed significantly after exercise, indicating muscle injury. Step length decreased and stride frequency significantly increased 48 h post-exercise only at the fastest running speed (3 m · s(-1)). Support time and knee flexion at toe-off increased only at the preferred transition speed and 2.5 m · s(-1). Knee flexion at foot contact, pelvic tilt and obliquity significantly increased, whereas hip extension during stance-phase, knee flexion during swing-phase, as well as knee and ankle joints range of motion significantly decreased 48 h post-exercise at all speeds. In conclusion, the effects of eccentric exercise of both knee extensors and flexors on particular tempo-spatial parameters and knee kinematics of running are speed-dependent. However, several pelvic and lower joint kinematics present similar behaviour at the three running speeds examined. These findings provide new insights into how running kinematics at different speeds are adapted to compensate for the impaired function of the knee musculature following muscle damage.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Performance and Rehabilitation, Centre for Research and Technology, Trikala, Greece.
authors.forename: Themistoklis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsatalas
authors.forename: Giannis
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giakas
authors.forename: Giannis
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spyropoulos
authors.forename: Vasileios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sideris
authors.forename: Savvas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lazaridis
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kotzamanidis
authors.forename: Yiannis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koutedakis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee; D007719:Knee Joint; D007866:Leg; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000293:injuries*; D010146:Pain; D010388:Pelvis; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D012420:Running / Q000502:physiology*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D019415:Torque; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003402:Creatine Kinase