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Running downhill causes structural damage in deep slow-twitch extensor muscles of the limbs. Both mechanical and metabolic hypotheses have been proposed to explain the damage. The purpose of this study was to use measurements of glycogen loss in the muscles and metabolic rates of rats running on the level and up and down 16 degrees inclines at 26 m min-1 to try to distinguish between these hypotheses. Glycogen loss in the soleus and medial head to the triceps brachii muscles during running on the three inclines was proportional to whole-animal oxygen consumption, indicating that there were no unusual metabolic demands on these muscles during the downhill exercise. The minimum area of these muscles showing glycogen loss was smaller during downhill than during uphill running. Average forces in the muscles are similar during locomotion on different inclines at the same speed, suggesting that stresses in the active motor units were greater during downhill running. Thus, the results are more consistent with a mechanical than with a metabolic etiology for the muscle injury resulting from downhill running.
Armstrong et al. (Mon,) studied this question.