Prolonged Recovery From Eccentric Versus Concentric Exercise

In order to determine whether exercise mode affects recovery energy expenditure, 7 active men (average age 25 yrs) performed a control rest and three submaximal exercise bouts in counterbalanced order in separate weeks. The bouts, designed to involve three levels of eccentric muscular activity, included 60% VO2max jog (60 J), 60% downhill (-5%) jog (60 DH), 60% cycling (60 C), and a control session. Following a 24-hr period of regulated activity and diet, subjects exercised for 60 min. VO2 and RER were assessed during 48 hrs of regulated recovery. Total energy use was elevated following 60 C and 60 DH versus control, and fat energy use was elevated following 60 J, 60 DH, and 60 C versus control. For combined trials, the total energy use was higher at 1, 2, and 9 hrs postexercise. These results do not support the hypothesis that eccentric muscular activity affects the magnitude of recovery energy expenditure.