Article

Uni-lateral muscle soreness is common yet the effects on gait or
electromyographic (EMG) activity are unknown. The purpose of our study was to
induce delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in the knee flexor group and measure
the resultant change in EMG activity and knee motion during gait. Nine healthy
subjects participated in the study. Measures of function, evoked tenderness of
the biceps femoris, as well as knee angle, and EMG activity during gait were
assessed prior and 48 h after an eccentric exercise protocol. DOMS was induced
unilaterally in the knee flexors using an isokinetic dynamometer and subjects
exercised until they could not generate 50% of their maximal voluntary isometric
contraction (MVIC). There was a significant decrease in biceps femoris activity
after DOMS during the last phase of gait. Moreover,
there was a day x phase
interaction for gastrocnemius activity with the last two phases displaying an
increase in activity. There was no significant change in knee angle during gait.
The decrease in biceps femoris activity as well as the increase in gastrocnemius
activity could be evidence of a protective mechanism designed to decrease
activity of the sore muscle while increasing the activity of a synergistic muscle.
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Langue : ANGLAIS