Measurement tools used in the study of eccentric contraction-induced injury

The objective of this review is to evaluate the measurement tools currently used in the study of eccentric contraction-induced muscle injury, with emp hasis on their usefulness for quantifying the magnitude and duration of the injury and as indicators of muscle functional deficits. In studies in huma ns, it was concluded that measurements of maximal voluntary contraction tor que and range of motion provide the best methods for quantifying muscle inj ury. Similarly, in animal studies, the in vitro measurement of electrically elicited force under isometric conditions was considered to be the best of the measurement tools currently in use. For future studies, more effort should be put into measuring other contract ile parameters (e.g. force/torque-velocity and force/torque-length relation ships, maximal shortening velocity and fatigue susceptibility) that may ref lect injury-induced functional impairments. The use of histology, ratings o f soreness and the measurement of blood or bath levels of myofibre proteins should be discouraged for purposes of quantifying muscle injury and/or fun ctional impairment.