BACKGROUND The relevance of left ventricular (LV) geometric pattern after myocardial infarction is not known. OBJECTIVES To analyze the presence of different LV geometric patterns and their impact as a predictor of remodeling in patients with myocardial infarction. METHODS Patients with anterior acute myocardial infarction (n = 80) were divided according to the geometric pattern: normal (no...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Osteitis pubis refers to a painful, inflammatory condition involving the pubic bones, pubic symphysis, and adjacent structures. So, the aims of the study were to evaluate the strength of trunk muscles of soccer players suffering from osteitis pubis, and to compare the agonist/antagonist ratio of trunk muscles in osteitis pubis athletes with that of healthy athletes. ...

The force exerted by a muscle is a function of the activation level and the maximum (tetanic) muscle force. In "maximum" voluntary knee extensions muscle activation is lower for eccentric muscle velocities than for concentric velocities. The aim of this study was to model this "differential activation" in order to calculate the maximum voluntary knee extensor torque as a function of knee angula...

The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of additional eccentric loading on subsequent concentric strength. Eight subjects with some experience in weight training volunteered to perform maximal attempts in the barbell bench press using detaching hooks that allowed them to lower 105% of their concentric 1 repetition maximum (RM) and raise 100%. The detaching hooks allowed attachment ...

Muscle contractions preceding to high intensity activity can result in increased force and power generation (postactivation potentiation[PAP]). Although the type of muscular contractions could affect subsequent strength and power performance, little information exists on their effects. According to some authors augmentation is one of the most frequently used methods to acquire the strength and ...

BACKGROUND Compared to eccentric contractions, concentric contractions result in higher cardiovascular stress. However, we do not know how these two types of contractions influence cardiac autonomic modulation during the post-exercise recovery period. OBJECTIVE to compare the effect of resistance training that is performed with concentric vs. eccentric emphasis on muscle strength and on post-...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the acute effects of isolated eccentric and concentric calf muscle exercise on Achilles tendon sagittal thickness. DESIGN Within-subject, counterbalanced, mixed design. SETTING Institutional. PARTICIPANTS 11 healthy, recreationally active male adults. INTERVENTIONS Participants performed an exercise protocol, which involved isolated eccentric loading of the Achi...

Chondromalacia patellae is a disorder often accompanied by patellofemoral instability. This can be simply a reflex inhibition of the quadriceps muscle secondary to pain. The eccentric and concentric contraction exercises are beneficial in strengthening of the quadriceps muscles and treatment of chondromalacia patellae. This study was conducted to compare between eccentric contraction and concen...

OBJECTIVES Mechanical and neuromuscular benefits arise during ballistic stretch-shortening cycle muscle activation, yet resistance training regimens are typically non-ballistic, and in contrast to ballistic movement, require a concentric deceleration phase. DESIGN Twelve healthy males performed a unilateral, six repetition maximum non-ballistic elbow flexion-extension task during; (i) rapid s...

We welcome the opportunity to respond to the informative letter regarding the terminology of concentric and eccentric. We certainly agree that it is exceedingly important to be as precise and accurate as possible when using these and any scientific terminology. The authors of the letter astutely point out the difference in terminology between movement of a single muscle compared with movement o...