ECCENTRIC ACTIVATION AND MUSCLE DAMAGE - BIOMECHANICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS DURING DOWNHILL RUNNING

An eccentric muscle activation is the controlled lengthening of the mu scle under tension. Functionally, most leg muscles work eccentrically for some part of a normal gait cycle, to support the weight of the bod y against gravity and to absorb shock. During downhill running the rol e of eccentric work of the 'anti-gravity' muscles - knee extensors, mu scles of the anterior and posterior tibial compartments and hip extens ors - is accentuated. The purpose of this paper is to review the relat ionship between eccentric muscle activation and muscle damage, particu larly as it relates to running, and specifically, downhill running.