Muscle strength and inflammatory response to the training load in rowers

Tomasz Podgórski; Alicja Nowak; Katarzyna Domaszewska; Jacek Mączyński; Magdalena Jabłońska; Jarosław Janowski; Małgorzata B Ogurkowska

doi:10.7717/peerj.10355

Muscle strength and inflammatory response to the training load in rowers

PeerJ. 2020 Dec 16:8:e10355. doi: 10.7717/peerj.10355. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Tomasz Podgórski¹, Alicja Nowak², Katarzyna Domaszewska¹, Jacek Mączyński³, Magdalena Jabłońska³, Jarosław Janowski⁴, Małgorzata B Ogurkowska³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznań, Poland.
² Department of Hygiene, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznań, Poland.
³ Department of Biomechanics, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznań, Poland.
⁴ Department of Theory of Sport, Poznan University of Physical Education, Poznań, Poland.

Abstract

Background: Regular exercise leads to changes in muscle metabolism. The consequence of this is the adaptation to higher training loads.The aim of this study was to evaluate biomechanical and biochemical parameters describing the functions of skeletal muscles in periods when changes in training forms were introduced.

Methods: Seventeen male sweep-oar rowers, members of the Polish national rowing team, participated. The study was carried out at the beginning and at the end of the preparatory period. In the first and second examination measurements of torques of selected muscle groups and blood biochemical analysis were performed.

Results: There was observed a statistically significant decrease in the relative global force of the right lower limb between both terms of examination. A statistically significant increase in maximum torque was found for torso flexors. In the case of muscles responsible for torso rotation, a statistically significant decrease in the torque values of right torso rotators was observed. A significant difference was found with respect to creatine kinase activity, total testosterone concentration, total testosterone to cortisol ratio and total phenolics concentration (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The study shows that the rowers' training should be more focused on building the strength of lower limbs to prevent the overload of lumbar spine and that the amount of force developed may be significantly affected by the antioxidant potential of rowers.

Keywords: Antioxidant potential; Inflammatory agents; Muscle injuries; Muscle strength; Steroid hormones.

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education within the “Development of Academic Sport” program (Project No. N RSA4 06154). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.