The purpose of the present study was to clarify the effect of post-exercise heat treatment on eccentric contraction-induced muscle damage and muscle soreness. Seventeen untrained male subjects (23±2 yrs) volunteered to participate in this study. They were randomly assigned to a CON (n=9) or a Post-H (n=8) group and were asked to perform 30 repetitions of maximal isokinetic eccentric contractions (ECC) of non-dominant elbow flexors at angular velocity of 30ﾟ･s⁻¹ by means of isokinetic dynamometer. Immediately after ECC, the Post-H group had a microwave hyperthermia treatment (150W, 20min) to the same arm. Maximal isometric strength, range of motion of elbow joint, upper arm circumference, serum creatine kinase activity and muscle soreness were assessed for 4 days after ECC. As the results, there were no differences in the makers between CON and Post-H groups. It is suggest that the heat treatment on skeletal muscles immediately after ECC could not suppress an increase of muscle damage and muscle soreness.

DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.30/THE DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE