Elmer Steven J, Anderson Dakota J, Wakeham Travis R, Kilgas Matthew A, Durocher John J, Lindstedt Stan L, LaStayo Paul C
Department of Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, 49931, USA.
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, 49931, USA.
Eur J Appl Physiol. 2017 Jul;117(7):1473-1483. doi: 10.1007/s00421-017-3642-9. Epub 2017 May 17.
Eccentric leg cycling (cycle ergometry adapted to impose muscle lengthening contractions) offers an effective exercise for restoring lower-body muscular function, maintaining health, and improving performance in clinical and athletic populations.
We extended this model to the upper body and evaluated the effectiveness of a 7-week eccentric arm cycling (ECC) intervention to improve upper-body muscular function. We also explored whether ECC would alter arterial function.
Participants performed ECC (n = 9) or concentric arm cycling (CON; n = 8) 3×/week while training intensity increased (5-20 min, 60-70% upper-body peak heart rate). Maximum elbow extensor strength, upper-body concentric power, and peripheral and central arterial stiffness were assessed before and after training.
During training, heart rates and perceived exertion did not differ between groups (~68% upper-body peak heart rate, ~12 Borg units, both P > 0.05), whereas power during ECC was ~2× that for CON (122 ± 43 vs. 59 ± 20 W, P < 0.01). Muscle soreness for ECC was greater than CON (P = 0.02), however, soreness was minimal for both groups (<0.50 cm). Following training, ECC exhibited greater changes in elbow extensor strength (16 ± 10 vs. 1 ± 9%, P = 0.01) and upper-body power (6 ± 8 vs. -3 ± 7%, P < 0.01) compared to CON. Peripheral and central arterial stiffness did not change for either group (both P > 0.05).
Upper-body eccentric exercise improved dynamic muscular function while training at low exertion levels. Results occurred with minimal soreness and without compromising arterial function. ECC findings parallel eccentric leg cycling findings and indicate that eccentric cycle ergometry offers a robust model for enhancing upper-body muscular function. ECC could have applications in rehabilitation and sport training.
离心腿部骑行（一种经过调整以施加肌肉拉长收缩的自行车测力计运动）为恢复下半身肌肉功能、维持健康以及提高临床和运动员群体的运动表现提供了一种有效的锻炼方式。
我们将此模型扩展至上半身，并评估了为期7周的离心手臂骑行（ECC）干预对改善上半身肌肉功能的有效性。我们还探讨了ECC是否会改变动脉功能。
参与者每周进行3次ECC（n = 9）或向心手臂骑行（CON；n = 8），同时训练强度增加（5 - 20分钟，上半身峰值心率的60 - 70%）。在训练前后评估最大肘伸肌力量、上半身向心功率以及外周和中心动脉僵硬度。
在训练期间，两组之间的心率和主观用力程度无差异（上半身峰值心率的68%，12 Borg单位，P均>0.05），而ECC期间的功率约为CON的2倍（122±43 vs. 59±20瓦，P<0.01）。ECC的肌肉酸痛程度大于CON（P = 0.02），然而，两组的酸痛程度均最小（<0.50厘米）。训练后，与CON相比，ECC在肘伸肌力量（16±10 vs. 1±9%，P = 0.01）和上半身功率（6±8 vs. -3±7%，P<0.01）方面表现出更大的变化。两组的外周和中心动脉僵硬度均未改变（P均>0.05）。
上半身离心运动在低用力水平训练时改善了动态肌肉功能。结果在酸痛最小且不损害动脉功能的情况下出现。ECC的结果与离心腿部骑行的结果相似，表明离心自行车测力计运动为增强上半身肌肉功能提供了一个有力的模型。ECC可应用于康复和运动训练。
