Muscle tissue is unique in its requirement and ability to undertake ve
ry rapid and co-ordinated changes in energy supply and oxygen flux dur
ing contraction. Several studies have suggested that this renders the
tissue particularly prone to oxygen radical-mediated damage. Free radi
cals have been postulated to play a role in muscle damage induced by d
ifferent forms of exercise and in various pathological disorders, such
as the muscular dystrophies, malignant hyperthermia and alcoholic myo
pathy. However, conclusive evidence for a fundamental role for free ra
dicals and protective effect of antioxidants remains elusive in all th
ese situations and much further work on the relevant pathogenetic mech
anisms is still required.