Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2021, Vol. 25 ›› Issue (14): 2280-2286.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.3122

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Exercise-induced muscle damage: mechanism, quantitative MRI evaluation and treatment advances

Lyu Xiaohong1, 2, Gao Yue1, Liu Qiang1, Pan Shinong1   

  1. 1Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, Liaoning Province, China; 2Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121000, Liaoning Province, China
  • Received:2020-05-15 Revised:2020-05-19 Accepted:2020-06-29 Online:2021-05-18 Published:2020-12-31
  • Contact: Pan Shinong, Professor, Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, Liaoning Province, China
  • About author:Lyu Xiaohong, MD candidate, Attending physician, Department of Radiology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110000, Liaoning Province, China; Department of Radiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou 121000, Liaoning Province, China
  • Supported by:
    the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province (General Project), No. 20180530051 (to LXH); the Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province (Guiding Project), No. 2019-ZD-0794 (to PSN)

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Exercise-induced muscle damage is a common phenomenon in both general population and professional sports training, of which the light can affect daily life and the heavy can restrict the development of sports skills.
OBJECTIVE: To review the changes of quantitative MRI, advances in treatment and unsolved problems based on the core mechanism of exercise-induced muscle damage.
METHODS: The first author searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CNKI and WanFang databases to retrieve relevant articles published from 1900 to 2020 with the search terms of “exercise-induced muscle damage, delayed onset muscle soreness, eccentric exercise, eccentric contractions, skeletal muscle” in English and Chinese, respectively. Finally, 70 relevant literatures were included for review.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The international mainstream views on the mechanism of exercise-induced muscle damage tend to be the theory of mechanical injury, metabolic disorder and inflammation. MRI plays an increasingly important role in the field of sports injury. Different sequences and measurement parameters can quantify muscle damage in terms of the level of restricted diffusion of water molecules, anisotropy, the degree of inflammation, and the ability of energy metabolism. Based on the main mechanism of muscle damage, treatments for muscle damage mainly include exercise, medication, and rehabilitation, all of which have made some achievements. Future research on the threshold value of MRI parameters quantifying whether the damage is reversible or not as well as more targeted prevention and treatment means is warranted.

Key words: muscle, exercise-induced muscle damage, muscle soreness, eccentric contraction, exercise, skeletal muscle, MRI, review

CLC Number: