Proprioceptive and muscle activation changes in triceps surae associated with exercise induced muscle damage

The aim of this thesis was to examine proprioceptive and activation changes that occur in triceps surae in response to exercise induced muscle damage (EIMD). While proprioceptive changes have previously been demonstrated in association with EIMD, the present investigation examined the role of a number of potential contributing factors to these changes, following both single and repeated bouts of eccentric exercise

Changes in muscular power associated with delayed onset muscle soreness

The aims of the this study were to investigate the effects of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) following downhill running on cycling power output and to determine the extent of any relationships between power output, strength, and DOMS. 12 active male subjects (aged 18-25 years) were randomly assigned to either a test (n=7) or control (n=5) group. The test group performed a 5 x 8 minute downhill running protocol at a grade of -7% and a speed corresponding to 80% of the subjects age predicted heart rate maximum. Measurements of isometric knee extension and flexion strength, peak and average cycling power output (Wingate Test), muscle tenderness, muscle soreness and plasma creatine kinase (CK) were taken pre-run and 30 minutes, 24, 72 and 120 hours post-run for both groups. The test group did not perform the downhill running protocol. The control group showed no significant changes in any of the testing variables across time. For the test group, significant decreases (p2= 0.69) for extensor strength and average power were reduced 120 hours post-run (r2 = 0.32). No significant correlations were seen between soreness or tenderness, in relation to power output or strength, however this result may reflect a variation in testing protocols, and the use of active subjects with possible protection against damage and soreness. Results show that peak power, average power and strength are reduced during periods of DOMS, however, a direct relationship could not be confirmed from the current study without further investigation

Reliability of the running vertical jump test in female team sport athletes

Injury rates to the lower limb have increased over the past 40 years, coinciding with increases in female sport participation rates. Sport specific tests such as the running vertical jump (RVJ) are utilised for injury risk profiling, however the test-retest reliability is unknown. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the test-retest reliability of the thorax, pelvis and lower limb joint angular kinematics and kinetics for the RVJ test in female team sport athletes. Design: Three-dimensional motion capture with force plate integration was utilised as participants performed five trials on each limb on three separate days. Setting: Testing occurred in a biomechanics laboratory. Participants: Thirty-four females (Australian Rules Football = 15, Netball = 12, Soccer = 7) participated in this study. Main Outcome Measures: Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), effect sizes and typical errors (TE) of segment and joint angular kinematics and kinetics were calculated. Results: Poor to excellent reliability (ICC = −0.12 – 0.92), small to large effect sizes (0.00–0.90) and TE (0.02–289.24) were observed across segment and joint angular kinematics and kinetics. Conclusions: The RVJ test is recommended when analysing ground reaction forces and joint angular kinematics in female team sport athletes