Publications
Acute effects of muscle mechanical properties after 2000-m rowing in young male rowers
Authors: Chun-Hao Chang 1, Chin-Shan Ho 1, Fang Li 2, Chao-Yuan Chen 1, 3, Hung-Chih Yeh 1, Chia-An Ho 1
Affiliations:
- Graduate Institute of Sports Science, National Taiwan Sport University, Taoyuan City, Taiwan
- School of Physical Education, Central China Normal University, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China
- Sport Office, National Taipei University of Business, Taipei City, Taiwan
Journal: PeerJ - January 2024, Volume 12, Article no. e16737 (DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16737)
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Field & Applications:
- Sport
- Muscle development / Performance
- Muscle symmetry
- Injury prevention
Background: The mechanical properties of muscles, such as changes in muscle tone and stiffness, are related to sports performance and injuries. Rowers are at increased risk of muscle fatigue and injury during high-repetition and heavy-load cyclic muscle actions. In view of this, the aim of the present study was to investigate the acute effect on muscle tone and stiffness, as well as bilateral muscle asymmetry, in high school rowers after a 2000-meter rowing ergometer test.
Methods: Twelve young male rowers (age = 17.1 ± 0.9 years, body weight = 73.5 ± 9.7 kg) were included in the study. The data of muscle tone (frequency) and stiffness of the posterior deltoids (PD), latissimus dorsi (LD), and rectus femoris (RF) (dominant and non-dominant side) before and after a 2000-m rowing ergometer test were collected using a handheld MyotonPRO device.
Results: After the rowing ergometer test, the muscle tone of dominant side PD, LD, and RF were significantly increased (p < 0.05). On the other hand, the muscle stiffness of the non-dominant side LD and RF, as well as the dominant side PD, LD, and RF were significantly increased after the rowing ergometer test (p < 0.05). The muscle tone and stiffness results showed that the dominant side PD, LD, and RF were all significantly higher than the non-dominant side after the rowing ergometer test (p < 0.05), where bilateral PD and RF exhibits moderate asymmetry (5% < symmetry index < 10%).
Conclusions: After a high-intensity and high-load 2000-m rowing ergometer test, PD, LD, and RF showed increases in muscle tone and stiffness, as well as changes in the symmetry of bilateral muscle mechanical properties.
Subjects: kinesiology, biomechanics, sports injury, sports medicine
Keywords: mechanical property, rowing, symmetry index, myotonometer
Our study showed that a 2000-m rowing ergometer test increased the muscle tone and stiffness of the PD, LD, and RF. The increase in muscle tone and stiffness was asymmetrically greater in the dominant limb than in the non-dominant limb, which showed moderate asymmetry in PD and RF, with a symmetry index greater than 5%. These illustrated the importance of monitoring the muscle-related mechanical properties of athletes during or immediately after training to prevent possible negative changes caused by the long-term load accumulation of daily physical training on the muscles.