Eccentric Exercise–Induced Muscle Damage Reduces Gross Efficiency

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction The effect of eccentric exercise–induced muscle damage (EIMD) on cycling efficiency is unknown. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of EIMD on gross and delta efficiency and the cardiopulmonary responses to cycle ergometry. Methods Twenty-one recreational athletes performed cycling at 70%, 90%, and 110% of the gas exchange threshold (GET) under control conditions (Control) and 24 h following an eccentric damaging protocol (Damage). Knee extensor isometric maximal voluntary contraction, potentiated twitch (Q tw,pot), and voluntary activation were assessed before Control and Damage. Gross and delta efficiency were assessed using indirect calorimetry, and cardiopulmonary responses were measured at each power output. Electromyography root-mean-square (EMGRMS) during cycling was also determined. Results Maximal voluntary contraction was 25% ± 18% lower for Damage than Control (P < 0.001). Gross efficiency was lower for Damage than Control (P < 0.001) by 0.55% ± 0.79%, 0.59% ± 0.73%, and 0.60% ± 0.87% for 70%, 90%, and 110% GET, respectively. Delta efficiency was unchanged between conditions (P = 0.513). Concurrently, cycling EMGRMS was higher for Damage than Control (P = 0.004). An intensity-dependent increase in breath frequency and V̇E/V̇CO2 was found, which were higher for Damage only at 110% GET (P ≤ 0.019). Conclusions Thus, gross efficiency is reduced following EIMD. The concurrently higher EMGRMS suggests that increases in muscle activation in the presence of EIMD might have contributed to reduced gross efficiency. The lack of change in delta efficiency might relate to its poor reliability hindering the ability to detect change. The findings also show that EIMD-associated hyperventilation is dependent on exercise intensity, which might relate to increases in central command with EIMD.