Characteristics of concentric and eccentric muscle contraction -analyzed from muscle oxygenation changes-

Abstract

[Purpose] We examined the characteristic of muscle contraction in concentric contraction (COC) and eccentric contraction (ECC) by muscle oxygenation change. [Subjects] The subjects were 16 healthy males. [Methods] Oxygenation change of the vastus lateralis was measured using a near-infrared spectroscopy device, when subjects performed COC and ECC knee joint exercise using an isokinetic machine. We calculated the decrease in the value of oxygen saturation (SdO2), lapse time to the trough of SdO2and recovery time of SdO2from the data. Next, we compared COC with ECC. [Results] The muscle strength in ECC was higher than in COC. A significant difference was not observed in the decrease of SdO2. In ECC, lapse time to the trough of SdO2was longer and the recovery time was shorter than in COC. [Conclusion] There was a greater total work load in ECC, but muscle oxygenation deteriorated more slowly. It seems that ECC has high mechanical efficiency, and that muscle blood flow is maintained. © 2009, The Society of Physical Therapy Science. All rights reserved.