Moderate Intensity Cycling Is Better Than Running On Recovery Of Eccentric Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage

Abstract Objective To compare the effects of moderate intensity running and cycling on markers of exercise-induced muscle damage in men. Study Design Randomized controlled trial. Setting Laboratory. Participants Thirty volunteers were randomized in three groups [running (RG; n=10), cycling (CG; n=10) and control (CON; n=10)] and were evaluated at baseline, post 24, 48 and 72h of knee extensors’ muscle damage protocol. CON performed passive recovery, while RG and CG performed active recovery immediately after the protocol, as well as 24h and 48h afterwards. Main outcomes (i) maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC); (ii) delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS); (iii) plasma creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. Results No group-by-time interaction was found in any outcome evaluated (p>0.05). All groups presented decreases in MVIC and increases in DOMS (p Conclusion Although the null hypothesis analysis did not find differences, the magnitude-based inference analysis suggested that moderate intensity cycling have likely beneficial effects on knee extensor muscle recovery after eccentric exercise protocol.