Early resistance training-induced increases in muscle cross-sectional area are concomitant with edema-induced muscle swelling.
OBJECTIVE
It has been proposed that skeletal muscle shows signs of resistance training (RT)-induced muscle hypertrophy much earlier (i.e., ~3-4 weeks of RT) than previously thought. We determined if early increases in whole muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) during a period of RT were concomitant with edematous muscle swelling and thus not completely attributable to hypertrophy.


METHODS
We analyzed vastus lateralis muscle ultrasound CSA images and their respective echo intensities (CSA-USecho) at the beginning (T1), in the 3rd week of RT (T2) and at the end (T3) of a 10-week RT period in ten untrained young men. Functional parameters [training volume (TV = load × reps × sets) and maximal voluntary contraction (MVC)] and muscle damage markers (myoglobin and interleukin-6) were also assessed.


RESULTS
Muscle CSA increased significantly at T2 (~2.7%) and T3 (~10.4%) versus T1. Similarly, CSA-USecho increased at T2 (~17.2%) and T3 (~13.7%). However, when CSA-USecho was normalized to the increase in muscle CSA, only T2 showed a significantly higher USecho versus T1. Additionally, TV increased at T2 and T3 versus T1, but MVC increased only at T3. Myoglobin and Interleukin-6 were elevated at T2 versus T1, and myoglobin was also higher at T2 versus T3.


CONCLUSIONS
We propose that early RT-induced increases in muscle CSA in untrained young individuals are not purely hypertrophy, since there is concomitant edema-induced muscle swelling, probably due to muscle damage, which may account for a large proportion of the increase. Therefore, muscle CSA increases (particularly early in an RT program) should not be labeled as hypertrophy without some concomitant measure of muscle edema/damage.
School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Mello de Morais, 65, São Paulo, SP, 05508-030, Brazil. felipedamas@usp.br.
Felipe
F
Damas
Department of Kinesiology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
Stuart M
SM
Phillips
School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Mello de Morais, 65, São Paulo, SP, 05508-030, Brazil.
Manoel E
ME
Lixandrão
School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Mello de Morais, 65, São Paulo, SP, 05508-030, Brazil.
Felipe C
FC
Vechin
Laboratory of Neuromuscular Adaptations to Resistance Training, Federal University of São Carlos, Rod. Washington Luiz, Km 235-SP310, São Carlos, SP, 13565-905, Brazil.
Cleiton A
CA
Libardi
School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Mello de Morais, 65, São Paulo, SP, 05508-030, Brazil.
Hamilton
H
Roschel
School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Mello de Morais, 65, São Paulo, SP, 05508-030, Brazil.
Valmor
V
Tricoli
School of Physical Education and Sport, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Mello de Morais, 65, São Paulo, SP, 05508-030, Brazil.
Carlos
C
Ugrinowitsch
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D004487:Edema / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D052097:Quadriceps Muscle / Q000502:physiology; D055070:Resistance Training / Q000379:methods; D014891:Weight Lifting / Q000502:physiology
Echo intensity; Muscle damage; Muscle hypertrophy; Resistance exercise; Skeletal muscle; Ultrasound