Residual Muscular Soreness as Influenced by Concentric, Eccentric, and Static Contractions

Abstract Sixty subjects, 53 women and 7 men, were assigned at random to either concentric, eccentric, or static contraction groups. Residual muscular soreness was induced through exhaustive exercises performed on the nondominant arm. Muscular strength and limb volume measurements were taken before exercise, immediately after the bouts, and 24, 48, and 72 hr. later. Soreness was measured during the same time intervals by means of a rating scale. The results showed that eccentric contractions effected greater residual muscular soreness than concentric and static contractions, with the peak occurring after 48 hr. Muscular strength decreased appreciably following eccentric contraction, and remained depressed throughout the duration of the soreness period, while no significant differences in strength were found after concentric and static contractions. Limb volume increased in both exercised and unexercised arms immediately after exercise, regardless of the type of contraction. After 24, 48, and 72 hr., however, eccentric contractions effected continued elevated limb volume, while the return to preexercise values occurred after concentric and static contractions. There was no evidence of any relationship between the degree of residual muscular soreness and limb volume after concentric, eccentric, and static contractions. Moderate negative relationships were obtained between soreness and muscular strength after eccentric contractions at a time when soreness had reached its peak.