Modulation of exercise-induced muscular damage and hyperalgesia by different 630 nm doses of light-emitting diode therapy (LEDT) in rats.

We compared the acute effects of different doses of 630 nm light-emitting diode therapy (LEDT) on skeletal muscle inflammation and hyperalgesia in rats submitted to exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). Wistar rats were divided into five experimental groups (n = 5-8/group): sedentary control (CON); exercise + passive recovery (PR); and exercise + LEDT (1.2 J/cm2, 1.8 J; 4.2 J/cm2, 6.3 J; 10.0 J/cm2, 15 J). After 100 min of swimming, the rats in the LEDT groups were exposed to phototherapy on the triceps surae muscle. For mechanical hyperalgesia evaluation, paw withdrawal threshold was assessed before and 24 h after swimming. Immediately after hyperalgesia tests, blood samples were collected to analyze creatine kinase (CK) activity and the soleus muscle was removed for histological and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α immunohistological analyses. In all LEDT groups, plasma CK activity was reduced to levels similar to those measured in the CON group. Paw withdrawal threshold decreased in the PR group (- 11.9 ± 1.9 g) when compared to the CON group (2.2 ± 1.5 g; p < 0.01) and it was attenuated in the group LEDT 4.2 J/cm2 (- 3.3 ± 2.4 g, p < 0.05). Less leukocyte infiltration and edema and fewer necrotic areas were found in histological sections of soleus muscle in LEDT (4.2 J/cm2) and LEDT (10.0 J/cm2) groups compared to the PR group. Also, LEDT (4.2 J/cm2) and LEDT (10.0 J/cm2) groups showed less immunostaining for TNF-α in macrophages or areas with necrosis of muscle fibers compared to the PR group. LEDT (4.2 J/cm2, 6.3 J)-reduced muscle inflammation and nociception in animals submitted to EIMD.

Effect of Cold Water Immersion Performed on Successive Days on Physical Performance, Muscle Damage, and Inflammatory, Hormonal, and Oxidative Stress Markers in Volleyball Players.

de Freitas, VH, Ramos, SP, Bara-Filho, MG, Freitas, DGS, Coimbra, DR, Cecchini, R, Guarnier, FA, and Nakamura, FY. Effect of cold water immersion performed on successive days on physical performance, muscle damage, and inflammatory, hormonal, and oxidative stress markers in volleyball players. J Strength Cond Res 33(2): 502-513, 2019-The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of daily cold water immersion (CWI) on physical performance, muscle damage, and inflammatory, hormonal, and oxidative stress markers in volleyball. Six players were submitted to CWI and six players to a placebo, during 5 training days. Thigh circumference, squat jump, and agility were measured on the first, third, and sixth days. On the first and sixth days, blood and saliva were collected for analysis of oxidative stress, muscle damage, and inflammatory and hormonal levels. Muscle soreness and countermovement jump were quantified daily. The physical performance comparisons did not present differences and the only between group comparison with a large effect size (ES = -1.39) was in Δ% between day 1 and day 2 for countermovement jump. Delayed onset muscle soreness and creatine kinase increased in both groups and the ESs of between group comparisons of Δ% between moments were not more than moderate. Thigh circumference increased only in the placebo group (p = 0.04) and the ES of the between group comparisons of Δ% between moments was large (1.53). No differences were found in oxidative stress, or inflammatory markers. Cortisol decreased only in the CWI-group (p ≤ 0.05) and the ESs of the between group comparisons of Δ% between moments of the testosterone to cortisol ratio (-1.94) and insulin-like growth-1 (-1.34) were large. Despite the positive effects of daily CWI on muscle edema and hormonal status, the limited effects of CWI on performance, muscle damage, inflammation markers, and reactive oxygen species mediators signal the unimportance of the daily practice of this recovery method in volleyball players.

Movement Patterns and Muscle Damage During Simulated Rugby Sevens Matches in National Team Players.

Pereira, LA, Nakamura, FY, Moraes, JE, Kitamura, K, Ramos, SP, and Loturco, I. Movement patterns and muscle damage during simulated rugby sevens matches in national team players. J Strength Cond Res 32(12): 3465-3474, 2018-The aim of this study was to analyze the match performance (i.e., distance covered in different intensities), signs of muscle damage (assessed by means of creatine kinase [CK] activity and rate of force development [RFD]), and neuromuscular fatigue (using linear sprint and vertical jump performances) after 3 single-day simulated matches performed by rugby sevens players from the Brazilian National team. Ten male rugby sevens players (25.2 ± 3.6 years; 88.7 ± 7.1 kg; 182.2 ± 6.3 cm) participated in this study. On the day before the matches, the athletes performed a 40-m sprint, a vertical jump assessment, and a maximal isometric force test. In the morning of the match day, blood samples were collected to analyze the CK activity. Afterward, 3 simulated rugby sevens' matches were performed with 2-hour intermission periods. The match performance (encompassing total distance and distance covered in different velocity ranges and body loads [BLs]) was obtained from global positioning system units. The statistical analysis was performed using a mixed model approach and the effect sizes (ESs) of the differences. The statistical significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05. Players were capable of maintaining the match performance when comparing the first and last games. Large (ES > 0.8) and significant (p ≤ 0.05) reductions were demonstrated in the total distance and BL when comparing the second with the first halves. Decrements in the explosive force capacity (assessed by means of RFD) and the squat jump (SJ) were noticed (ES varying from 0.55 to 1.14; p ≤ 0.05). The CK activity increased after the matches (ES = 1.29; p ≤ 0.05). The rugby sevens players were able to maintain the physical performance across 3 successive matches simulating the first day of a tournament. The augmented CK activity and the decreases in the SJ and RFD suggest that increased levels of muscle damage were experienced on the day after the matches. Therefore, the technical staff are encouraged to implement recovery strategies and planned substitutions during multiday tournaments to reduce the impact of accumulated fatigue and muscle damage on subsequent match performance. In addition, specific training strategies aimed at better simulating the match demands need to be implemented in the players' training routines.

Evidence of a Non-Linear Dose-Response Relationship between Training Load and Stress Markers in Elite Female Futsal Players.

THE AIM OF THIS STUDY WAS: to describe typical training load (TL) carried out by a professional female futsal team for a period of 5 weeks; and to verify the relationship between TL, stress symptoms, salivary secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) levels, and symptoms of upper respiratory infections (URI). Over 45 sessions, the TL of the athletes was monitored daily by means of session-RPE method during the in-season period prior to the main national competition. Stress symptoms were measured weekly by means of the "Daily Analysis of Life Demands in Athletes Questionnaire" (DALDA), SIgA levels, and by symptoms of URI by the "Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey-21" (WURSS). There was a significant increase in TL, monotony, and training strain in week 3, with a concomitant and significant reduction in percentage variation (Δ%) of SIgA concentration and secretion rate (p < 0.05). Additionally, a second order regression model showed a high goodness of fit (R(2) = 0.64 - 0.89) between TL and strain with SIgA concentration, secretion rate, and "worse than normal" responses of stress symptoms from the questionnaire. In conclusion, a link between TL and SIgA levels, and stress symptoms in female futsal players was evident in a non linear fashion. There appears to be an optimal range of values of daily TL between ~343 and ~419 AU and strain between ~2639 and 3060 AU, because at levels below and above these values there was an increase in stress symptoms and above ~435 and ~3160 AU to TL and strain there were a decrease in SIgA levels. In contrast, symptoms of URI failed to demonstrate relationship with the variables studied. Key PointsThere is a dose-response relationship between SIgA levels and stress symptoms with TL.For the athletes of the present study, values of ~436 AU and ~3161 AU to TL and strain training would be desirable because higher values would decrease responses of SIgA levels.An optimal range of values of TL between ~336 and ~412 AU to TL and ~2610 and ~3016 AU to strain training would be suggested for this group of athletes, since below and above these values increased responses of stress symptoms were observed.