The Assessment of Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage - Evaluation of Exercise Mode and Environment

It is well established that performing unaccustomed exercise is associated with causing muscle damage. Historically, recovery from muscle damaging exercise has been investigated using laboratory-based eccentrically biased modes of exercise and recovery assessed using conventional indirect indicators. Recently, there has been a shift to investigating muscle damage following exercise representative of competitive sport environments, including functional and psychological assessments to monitor recovery. This thesis investigated how the mode of exercise and environment in which it is conducted, affect the muscle damage response. A review of the literature led to three main research areas: 1) Does conventional muscle damaging exercise impair functional and psychological outcomes? 2) Do common day-to-day exercise activities result in muscle damage? 3) How does muscle damage and recovery compare between conventional and novel modes of exercise? Completing a conventional muscle damaging mode of exercise (downhill running), impaired functional and psychological outcomes; associations suggested these outcomes may provide proxy indicators for muscle damage. Completing a common exercise activity (exercise class) did not result in muscle damage, however, it impaired reactive strength and readiness to exercise. When compared, conventional muscle damaging exercise caused greater muscle damage than a regular exercise activity; contrasting effects were observed for differences in balance and reactive strength. Less difference was observed in readiness to exercise, with both exercise modes leading individuals to feel less ready. The final investigation, suggested physically active and inactive individuals recover similarly following a common day-to-day exercise activity The findings presented highlight how recovery from a regular day-to-day exercise mode is different to conventional muscle damaging mode of exercise. A holistic approach, including a specific cluster of assessments, may be more appropriate and accessible, to enable recovery from regular exercise to be accurately monitored. Further research is warranted into the recovery of inactive individuals, to address potential barriers to exercise.