The effect of mucle fibre type on eccentric exercise damage.

Experimental Design

• Choose muscles of different fibre types, each with uniform fibre lengths.
  • Soleus (87%slow) and tibialis anterior (3%slow)
• Measure length-tension curve carefully.
  • Tetanic contractions.
  • Fit curves above 85% maximum with a Gaussian curve.
• Apply stretches from the equivalent point of the curves, and of equivalent size.
  • From the length at which tension was 85% optimum to optimum length.
  • Close to 4mm on average for both muscle types.
• Measure shift in optimum and drop in force as measures of damage.
  • Fit curves above 85% maximum with a Gaussian curve.
  • Use shift of optimum and fall in amplitude of the fitted curve as measures of damage.