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Let’s get eccentric: the physiology of muscle fatigue| old_uid | 12407 |
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| title | Let’s get eccentric: the physiology of muscle fatigue |
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| start_date | 2016/11/03 |
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| schedule | 14h |
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| online | no |
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| summary | When going down stairs, front thigh muscles work to stop the body moving forward, in which “eccentric contractions” are performed. In eccentric contraction, contracting muscles are lengthened by greater external load than muscle force, in contrast to concentric contraction in which muscles are shortened. The exercise consisting of mainly eccentric contractions is called “eccentric exercise.” Less oxygen is required for going down than going up stairs, so eccentric exercise is easier to perform than concentric exercise.
Our recent studies have shown that eccentric exercise training increases muscle strength and muscle mass, improves insulin sensitivity, decreases LDL cholesterol but increases HDL cholesterol, lowers high blood pressure and improve functional physical fitness much greater than concentric exercise training. It is also possible that eccentric exercise stimulates the brain better than concentric exercise. It has been well known that “exercise is medicine,” but these potential benefits of eccentric exercise have not been focused until recently.
One negative aspect of eccentric exercise is that it may induce muscle soreness that develops several hours after exercise, which is referred to as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). However, DOMS can be minimised by pre-conditioning exercise in which low-intensity eccentric contractions are performed. Even if DOMS is induced, it is much reduced in the subsequent exercise sessions, when eccentric exercise is repeated. Thus, possible DOMS should not discourage people from starting eccentric exercise. |
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| responsibles | Fenouil |
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