EFFECT OF AQUATIC EXERCISE AFTER ECCENTRIC CONTRACTION-INDUCED MUSCLE INJURY

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.

摘要
引言：由离心收缩（eccentric contractions, EC）引发的肌肉微损伤，会在较长一段时间内导致肌力、耐力、爆发力及神经肌肉活动参数发生改变。
研究目的：探究离心收缩诱导肌肉损伤后，水中运动对肌力、耐力、爆发力及神经肌肉活动参数的影响。
研究方法：本研究为横断面实验研究，共纳入6名受试者（年龄25±4岁，体重77±4kg，身高162±2cm），均为离心收缩诱导肌肉损伤患者，在恢复周期（48h、72h及96h）内分为两组：1A组为无干预对照组，仅接受常规恢复；1B组为水中运动干预组，于恢复期间开展水中运动训练。分别在干预前、干预即刻及恢复周期各时间点，对受试者的动态与等长肌力、肌肉耐力、垂直/水平爆发力进行测试，并测定股外侧肌（vastus lateralis）的神经肌肉活动情况。
研究结果：相较于1A组，1B组的干预措施可加速受试者在损伤后48h及72h的动态肌力（p<0.01）与等长肌力（p<0.03）恢复；可提升损伤后48h的垂直爆发力（p<0.05），以及损伤后48h与72h的水平爆发力（p<0.05）；同时可降低损伤后48h及72h的神经肌肉活动水平（p<0.05）。
研究结论：本研究结果表明，在肌肉损伤恢复期间进行水中运动，可提升肌肉效能，加速肌力、爆发力及神经肌肉活动参数的恢复。
证据等级：Ⅰ级；随机对照临床试验。