Int J Sports Med 1989; 10: S160-S168
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1024966
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Plasma Activity of Muscle Enzymes: Quantification of Skeletal Muscle Damage and Relationship with Metabolic Variables

G. M. E. Janssen1 , H. Kuipers2 , G. M. Willems3 , R. J. M. M. Does4 , M. P. E. Janssen4 , P. Geurten2
  • 1Department of Human Biology/Institute Sportsmedicine Limburg
  • 2Department of Physiology
  • 3Department of Biophysics
  • 4Department of Medical Informatics and Statistics
  • University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

Abstract

One hundred fourteen sedentary volunteers (34 ± 8 years) took part in an endurance training study to be completed after 18-20 months with a marathon. Ultimately, 60 males and 18 females achieved that goal. The training program, carefully supervised, was divided into three periods with a maximum of 45-, 70-, and 110-km week training volume and concluded with a performance race of 15, 25, and 42.2 km, respectively. Three days before and 3 and 5 days after each race, 35 subjects were selected to perform a progressive treadmill test and the remaining subjects participated in field tests of 400 and 1000 m.

A significant decrease in half-life time of CK enzyme plasma activity after running long distances in the course of the study from 20 h to 13 h was observed.

Based on plasma enzyme activity and supposing that the total enzyme content left the muscle fiber, the estimated amount of muscle damage was found to be small.

A gender difference in plasma enzyme activity increase (females demonstrated a lower increase) occurred only after the marathon.

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