Early detection of exercise-induced muscle damage using elastography

Lilian Lacourpaille (1, 2) , Antoine Nordez (1) , François Hug (1, 3, 4) , Valentin Doguet (1) , Ricardo Andrade (1) , Gaël Guilhem (2)

1 MIP - Motricité, interactions, performance EA 4334 / Movement - Interactions - Performance
2 SEP (EA7370) - French Institute of Sport (INSEP), Laboratory Sport, Expertise and Performance (EA7370)
3 UQ [All campuses : Brisbane, Dutton Park Gatton, Herston, St Lucia and other locations] - The University of Queensland
4 IUF - Institut universitaire de France

Purpose : This study aimed to determine whether an increase in muscle shear modulus measured 30 min after eccentric exercise (30 min) reflects the magnitude of force deficit measured 48-h post-exercise (48 H). Methods : A total of 53 healthy participants were distributed in five groups. Four groups performed either repeated eccentric elbow flexions or knee extensions at either a low or high load. A fifth group performed repeated concentric elbow flexions (control load). Results : A significant decreased peak torque was found for elbow flexors and knee extensors 48 h after the eccentric exercises (all P values < 0.001). A significant increase in shear modulus was found at 30 min for the elbow flexors for low (+70.5 ± 44.3%, P < 0.001) and high load (+153.9 ± 192.4%, P < 0.001). Similarly, the shear modulus of knee extensors increased for low (+26.7 ± 19.1%, P < 0.001) and high load (+79.4 ± 67.1%, P < 0.001). The relative increase in shear modulus measured at 30 min was significantly correlated to the relative decrease in peak torque measured at 48 H for both elbow flexors (r = −0.80) and knee extensors (r = −0.82). A further analysis suggested that biceps brachii and rectus femoris were more affected by muscle damage than their synergists. Conclusion : This study shows that an increase in muscle shear modulus measured 30 min after a damaging exercise reflects the decrease in peak torque measured at 48 H. Shear modulus may therefore, provide a useful tool for coaches and clinicians to non-invasively estimate the amount of muscle damage induced by a damaging exercise.

Mots clés: force deficit; Eccentric exercise; Marker; Shear modulus; Muscle stiffness

Domaines: Sport; Physiologie du sport

Lilian Lacourpaille, Antoine Nordez, François Hug, Valentin Doguet, Ricardo Andrade, et al.. Early detection of exercise-induced muscle damage using elastography. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 2017, 117 (10), pp.2047-2056. ⟨10.1007/s00421-017-3695-9⟩. ⟨hal-02570060⟩