Assessment of Elbow Extensors Endurance in Young Athletes

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare different endurance parameters of elbow extensors between senior and junior athletes. A group of 23 junior (16.2±0.8years, BMI 21.8±2.9 kg/m²) and 16 senior athletes (23.1±6.2y, BMI 23.6±4.2 kg/m²) volunteered for the study. Strength measurements were performed on the isoacceleration dynamometer (5 sets of 10 maximal elbow extensions, 1 min resting period between each set). The following strength parameters were measured: maximal strength (MS), endurance strength (ES), fatigue rate (FR) and decrease in strength (DS). Both arms triceps brachii muscle mass (MM) was calculated using a series of cross-sectional images of upper arms obtained by the MRI. Triceps brachii muscle mass for both arms in senior athletes showed significantly higher values (1286.9±323.7 g) compared to young athletes (948.9±171.1 g, p<0.01). ES was 50% higher in seniors, while FR was 10% higher in juniors. MS was 35% higher in seniors, but no difference was discovered when this parameter was expressed in relation to muscle mass. DS was significantly different between juniors and seniors, except in absolute values. No significant correlation was found between triceps brachii muscle mass and FR or DS. Different values of strength decrease throughout multiple contractions could be attributed to different characteristics of various sports.

Key words

muscle endurance - MRI - strength decrease - triceps brachii - athletes

• References

• 1 Ahtiainen JP, Hakkinen K. Strength athletes are capable to produce greater muscle activation and neural fatigue during high-intensity resistance exercise than non-athletes. J Strength Cond Res 2009; 23: 1129-1134
• 2 Cureton KJ, Collins MA, Hill DW, Mcelhannnon FM. Muscle hypertrophy in men and women. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1988; 20: 338-344
• 3 Duchateau J, Hainaut K. Isometric or dynamic training: differential effects on mechanical properties of a human muscle. J Appl Physiol 1984; 56: 296-301
• 4 Fukunaga T, Miyatani M, Tachi M, Kouzaki M, Kawakami Y, Kanehisa H. Muscle volume is a major determinant of joint torque in humans. Acta Physiol Scand 2001; 172: 249-255
• 5 Greig M, Siegler JC. Soccer-specific fatigue and eccentric hamstrings muscle strength. J Athl Train 2009; 44: 180-184
• 6 Harriss DJ, Atkinson G. Update – ethical standards in sport and exercise science research. Int J Sports Med 2011; 32: 819-821
• 7 Holzbaur KRS, Delp SL, Gold GE, Murray WM. Moment-generating capacity of upper limb muscles in healthy adults. J Biomech 2007; 40: 2442-2449
• 8 Izquierdo M, Ibanez J, Calbet JAL, Gonzales-Izal M, Navarro-Amezqueta I, Granados C, Malanda A, Idoate F, Gonzales-Badillo JJ, Hakkinen K, Kraemer WJ, Tirapu I, Gorostiaga EM. Neuromuscular fatigue after resistance training. Int J Sport Med 2009; 30: 614-623
• 9 Janssen I, Heymsfield SB, Wang Z, Ross R. Skeletal muscle mass and distribution in 468 men and women aged 18–88yr. J Appl Physiol 2000; 89: 81-88
• 10 Kraemer WJ, Fleck SJ, Evans WJ. Strength and power training: physiological mechanisms of adaptation. Exerc Sports Sci Rev 1996; 24: 363-397
• 11 Lee RC, Wang Z, Heo M, Ross R, Janssen I, Heymsfield SB. Total-body skeletal muscle mass: development and cross-validation of anthropometric prediction models. Am J Clin Nutr 2000; 72: 796-803
• 12 Lee RC, Wang Z, Heymsfield SB. Skeletal muscle mass and aging: regional and whole body measurement methods. Can J Appl Physiol 2001; 26: 102-122
• 13 Lee SY, Gallagher D. Assessment methods in human body composition. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 2008; 11: 566-572
• 14 Maughan RJ, Watson JS, Wier J. Strength and cross-sectional area of human skeletal muscle. J Physiol (Lond) 1983; 338: 37-49
• 15 McAuliffe M, Lalonde F, McGarry D, Gandler W, Csaky K, Trus B. Medical imaging processing, analysis and visulization in clinical research. IEEE Computer-based Medical Systems 2001; 381-386
• 16 Mileva KN, Morgan J, Bowtell J. Differentiation of power and endurance athletes based on their muscle fatigability assessed by new spectral electromyographic indices. J Sport Sci 2009; 27: 611-623
• 17 Mitchell JH, Reeves Jr DR, Rogers HB, Secher NH. Epidural anaesthesia and cardiovascular responses to static exercise in men. J Physiol 1989; 417: 13-24
• 18 Mitsiopoulos N, Baumgartner RN, Heymsfield SB, Lyons W, Gallagher D, Ross R. Cadaver validation of skeletal muscle measurements by magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography. J Appl Physiol 1998; 85: 115-122
• 19 Mohr M, Krustrup P, Nielsen JJ, Nybo L, Rasmussen MK, Juel C, Bangsbo J. Effect of two different intense training regimens on skeletal muscle ion transport proteins and fatigue development. Am J Physiol 2007; 292: R1594-R1602
• 20 Nedeljkovic A, Mirkov DM, Markovic S, Jaric S. Tests of muscle power output assess rapid movement performance when normalized for body size. J Strenght Cond Res 2009; 23: 1593-1605
• 21 Oliveira AS, Gonzalves M. Neuromuscular recovery of the biceps brachii muscle after resistance exercise. Res Sports Med 2008; 16: 244-256
• 22 Pingel J, Moerch L, Kjaer M, Langberg H. The influence of training status on the drop in muscle strength after acute exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol 2009; 106: 605-611
• 23 Popadic Gacesa JZ, Jakovljevic DjG, Kozic DB, Dragnic NR, Brodie DA, Grujic NG. Morpho-functional response of the elbow extensor muscles to twelve-week self-perceived maximal resistance training. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging 2010; 30: 413-419
• 24 Ross R. Magnetic resonance imaging provides new insights into the characterization of adipose and lean tissue distribution. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 1996; 74: 778-785
• 25 Tsolakis CK, Bogdanis GC, Vagenas GK, Dessypris AG. Influence of a twelve-month conditioning program on physical growth, serum hormones, and neuromuscular performance of peripubertal male fencers. J Strength Cond Res 2006; 20: 908-914