EFFECT OF AQUATIC EXERCISE AFTER ECCENTRIC CONTRACTION-INDUCED MUSCLE INJURY

EFEITO DO EXERCÍCIO AQUÁTICO DEPOIS DE LESÃO MUSCULAR PROVOCADA POR CONTRAÇÃO EXCÊNTRICA

EFECTO DEL EJERCICIO ACUÁTICO DESPUÉS DE UNA LESIÓN MUSCULAR POR CONTRACCIÓN EXCÉNTRICA

ABSTRACT

Introduction:

Muscle microlesions produced by eccentric contractions (EC) cause changes in strength, endurance, power and neuromuscular activity parameters for an extended period of time.

Objectives:

To investigate the effect of aquatic exercise after EC-induced muscle injury on strength, endurance, power and neuromuscular activity parameters.

Methods:

A cross-sectional experimental study with six subjects (age 25 ± 4 years, weight 77 ± 4kg and height of 162 ± 2 cm) with EC-induced muscle injury followed up during a recovery period (48h, 72h and 96h) without intervention (Group 1A) and involving aquatic exercises (Group 1B). Dynamic and isometric strength, muscular endurance, and vertical/horizontal power tests as well as vastus lateralis neuromuscular activity measurements were performed before, immediately after, and during the recovery period.

Results:

Our results indicate that the intervention in Group 1B, when compared to Group 1A, accelerated the recovery of dynamic (p <0.01) and isometric (p <0.03) strength at 48h and 72h, increased vertical power at 48h (p <0.05) and horizontal power at 48h and 72h (p <0.05), and reduced neuromuscular activity (p <0.05) at 48h and 72h after EC.

Conclusions:

According to our findings, performing aquatic exercises during the recovery period improves muscle efficiency and accelerates strength, power and neuromuscular activity recovery. Level of evidence l; Randomized clinical trial.

Keywords:
Eccentric exercise; Muscle damage; Active recovery