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Int J Sports Med 2014; 35(07): 559-565
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1358471
Training & Testing
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Chronic Eccentric Cycling Improves Quadriceps Muscle Structure and Maximum Cycling Power

C. H. Leong
1   Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
,
W. J. McDermott
2   Sport Science and Research, The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital, Murray, Utah, United States
,
S. J. Elmer
3   Department of Exercise Science and STEM, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, United States
4   Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, United States
,
J. C. Martin
1   Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History



accepted after revision 11 September 2013

Publication Date:
14 November 2013 (online)

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Abstract

An interesting finding from eccentric exercise training interventions is the presence of muscle hypertrophy without changes in maximum concentric strength and/or power. The lack of improvements in concentric strength and/or power could be due to long lasting suppressive effects on muscle force production following eccentric training. Thus, improvements in concentric strength and/or power might not be detected until muscle tissue has recovered (e. g., several weeks post-training). We evaluated alterations in muscular structure (rectus-femoris, RF, and vastus lateralis, VL, thickness and pennation angles) and maximum concentric cycling power (Pmax) 1-week following 8-weeks of eccentric cycling training (2×/week; 5–10.5 min; 20–55% of Pmax). Pmax was assessed again at 8-weeks post-training. At 1 week post-training, RF and VL thickness increased by 24±4% and 13±2%, respectively, and RF and VL pennation angles increased by 31±4% and 13±1%, respectively (all P<0.05). Compared to pre-training values, Pmax increased by 5±1% and 9±2% at 1 and 8 weeks post-training, respectively (both P<0.05). These results demonstrate that short-duration high-intensity eccentric cycling can be a time-effective intervention for improving muscular structure and function in the lower body of healthy individuals. The larger Pmax increase detected at 8-weeks post-training implies that sufficient recovery might be necessary to fully detect changes in muscular power after eccentric cycling training.

Key words

eccentric muscle contraction - strength training - force suppression - quadriceps hypertrophy - muscular power
 

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