Research Article

Efficacy of Concentric vs Eccentric Loading in The Prevention of Hamstring Injury in Elite Athletes

Abstract

The routine use of resistance exercises involving concentric and eccentric contractions can increase muscle strength, speed and endurance. However, modern understanding has limited potential to entirely understand the application of such resistance training and the muscle changes that occur to differentiate these two types of training. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of concentric contraction (CON) and eccentric contraction (ECC) during an acute bout of resistance training on the hamstring contractile properties. A group of 20 male university representing athletes were divided into two equal groups, CON training and ECC training. The peak isokinetic torque of the muscles was assessed using isokinetic machine: biceps femoris (BF) and semitendinosus (ST). The muscles were assessed twice, before and after 10 maximal repetitions of either concentric or eccentric isotonic contractions. The results indicate a greater change in peak isokinetic torque parameters with ECC training, with p < 0.001 (Td and Tc). A serious session of resistance training makes changes in the muscle hamstrings contractile properties in both CON and ECC training. Eccentric training causes greater changes than concentric exercise, shortening contraction period (Td, Tc), surge radial movement velocity and disturbing variations in muscle belly displacement (Dm), so may be more effective in training.