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Biomedical subjects

Priscilla M Clarkson

Publications and source records attributed to Priscilla M Clarkson.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Short-term immobilization after eccentric exercise. Part I: contractile properties.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the compound muscle action potential (M-wave) and evoked contractile properties of immobilized muscle after high-force eccentric exercise. We believed that changes in these variables would contribute to the enhanced recovery of maximal voluntary force observed after short-term immobilization of damaged muscle. We hypothesized that immobilization after eccentric exercise would result in an enhanced M-wave and a change in contractile properties toward characteristics of faster muscle fibers. METHODS: Twenty-five college-age males were matched according to force loss after 50 maximal eccentric contractions of the elbow flexors and placed into an immobilization (IMM, N = 12) or control (CON, N = 13) group. IMM had their arm immobilized at 90 degrees and secured in a sling during a 4-d treatment. Maximal isometric torque (MVC) was assessed at baseline and for 8 d after treatment. M-wave and evoked contractile properties of the muscle (twitch torque [TT], maximal rate of torque development [MRTD], time to peak torque [TPT], and one-half relaxation time [HRT]) were assessed at baseline and for the first 5 d after treatment. RESULTS: Immediately postexercise, MVC was reduced 43% and 42% in IMM and CON, respectively. Recovery of MVC was significantly greater in IMM during recovery (P < 0.05), 95% of baseline MVC compared with 83% in CON. M-wave was reduced 32%, and all contractile properties were altered immediately postexercise. M-wave, MRTD, TPT, and HRT were not significantly different between groups during recovery (P > 0.05). TT demonstrated enhanced recovery in IMM (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Short-term immobilization after eccentric exercise resulted in enhanced recovery of maximal voluntary force. However, enhanced force recovery cannot be explained by muscle activation and evoked contractile properties of the muscle.

Adult↗

Plasma creatine kinase activity and glutathione after eccentric exercise.

PURPOSE: This study examined whether plasma total glutathione levels could explain the intersubject variability in the creatine kinase (CK) response to eccentric exercise. We hypothesized that the increase in plasma CK activity after eccentric exercise would be lower for individuals with low plasma total glutathione (<2.5 micromol x L-1) compared with individuals with high total glutathione (>3.8 micromol x L-1), but other indicators of muscle damage would be the same between groups. METHODS: Resting blood samples were obtained over 2 d from 60 subjects and analyzed for plasma total glutathione. Eight subjects who had total glutathione values below 2.5 micromol x L-1 (LG), and nine who had values above 3.8 micromol x L-1 (HG) performed 50 maximal eccentric actions of the elbow flexors. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC), relaxed arm angle (RANG), and blood samples for CK, myoglobin (Mb), and total glutathione were obtained pre, post (except blood samples), 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h after exercise. RESULTS: There was a significant group-by-time interaction in analysis of MVC, RANG, total glutathione, CK, and Mb response to exercise. Although LG showed a smaller CK response to eccentric exercise compared with HG, LG also showed a smaller increase in plasma Mb, a faster recovery of MVC and RANG, and an increase in plasma total glutathione. CONCLUSION: Subjects with low plasma total glutathione levels had a smaller plasma CK and Mb response and a faster recovery from eccentric exercise compared with subjects having high plasma total glutathione levels. We suggest that a blunted inflammatory response in subjects with low plasma glutathione may be one explanation for these findings.

Adolescent↗

Two cases of exertional rhabdomyolysis precipitated by personal trainers.

INTRODUCTION: Numerous cases of exertional rhabdomyolysis have been reported in the literature, and these cases mostly involve individuals who were inexperienced exercisers, uneducated in fitness and health principles, dehydrated or heat stressed, taking drugs, or military recruits in basic training. PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to review two cases of exertional rhabdomyolysis in healthy, experienced exercisers. METHODS/RESULTS: The cases reviewed are for a 22-yr-old female college student and a 37-yr-old male physician who presented with rhabdomyolysis secondary to exercise in a local health club that was part of a national chain. DISCUSSION: In these two cases individuals, both well educated and experienced in fitness, were encouraged by fitness instructors in a local health club to overexertion during their exercise routine leading to rhabdomyolysis.

Adult↗

Oral contraceptive use and exercise-induced muscle damage and recovery.

Endogenous estrogen appears to attenuate muscle damage in animals; however, similar evidence in humans is not as strong. This investigation tested the hypothesis that women taking oral contraceptives, thereby having higher exogenous estrogen levels, would be more susceptible to damage or have an attenuated recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage. Muscle damage in women taking combined estrogen and progesterone oral contraceptives (OC) were compared to noncontraceptive users (NOC) after 50 eccentric muscle contractions of the elbow flexors. Measures of maximal isometric strength (MIS), range of motion (ROM), arm circumference (CIR), soreness (SOR), and serum creatine kinase (CK) activity were taken pre- and for 5 days post-exercise. All measures following exercises were similar between groups with the exception of MIS. Force recovery began 2 days post-exercise in the NOC group, while in the OC group strength did not start to return to normal until 4 days post-exercise (p < 0.05). Women taking oral contraceptives had a delayed strength recovery after eccentric exercise.

Adult↗

Exercise-induced muscle damage in humans.

Exercise-induced muscle injury in humans frequently occurs after unaccustomed exercise, particularly if the exercise involves a large amount of eccentric (muscle lengthening) contractions. Direct measures of exercise-induced muscle damage include cellular and subcellular disturbances, particularly Z-line streaming. Several indirectly assessed markers of muscle damage after exercise include increases in T2 signal intensity via magnetic resonance imaging techniques, prolonged decreases in force production measured during both voluntary and electrically stimulated contractions (particularly at low stimulation frequencies), increases in inflammatory markers both within the injured muscle and in the blood, increased appearance of muscle proteins in the blood, and muscular soreness. Although the exact mechanisms to explain these changes have not been delineated, the initial injury is ascribed to mechanical disruption of the fiber, and subsequent damage is linked to inflammatory processes and to changes in excitation-contraction coupling within the muscle. Performance of one bout of eccentric exercise induces an adaptation such that the muscle is less vulnerable to a subsequent bout of eccentric exercise. Although several theories have been proposed to explain this "repeated bout effect," including altered motor unit recruitment, an increase in sarcomeres in series, a blunted inflammatory response, and a reduction in stress-susceptible fibers, there is no general agreement as to its cause. In addition, there is controversy concerning the presence of sex differences in the response of muscle to damage-inducing exercise. In contrast to the animal literature, which clearly shows that females experience less damage than males, research using human studies suggests that there is either no difference between men and women or that women are more prone to exercise-induced muscle damage than are men.

Adaptation, Physiological↗