PROLONGED RECOVERY FROM ECCENTRIC VERSUS CONCENTRIC EXERCISE

In order to determine whether exercise mode affects recovery energy ex penditure, 7 active men (average age 25 yrs) performed a control rest and three submaximal exercise bouts in counterbalanced order in separa te weeks. The bouts, designed to involve three levels of eccentric mus cular activity, included 60% VO(2)mar jog (60 J), 60% downhill (-5%) j og (60 DH), 60% cycling (60 C), and a control session. Following a 24- hr period of regulated activity and diet, subjects exercised for 60 mi n. VO2 and RER were assessed during 48 hrs of regulated recovery. Tota l energy use was elevated following 60 C and 60 DH versus control, and fat energy use was elevated following 60 J, 60 DH, and 60 C versus co ntrol. For combined trials, the total energy use was higher at 1, 2, a nd 9 hrs postexercise. These results do not support the hypothesis tha t eccentric muscular activity affects the magnitude of recovery energy expenditure.