The Responses of Monocyte and Neutrophil Levels and Maximal Strength after Resistance Exercise and Training Accompanying Slight Muscle Damage: 1268: Board #31 May 30 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the responses of monocyte and neutrophil levels after resistance exercise and maximal strength by the training, which were performed under the conditions with or without RICE treated after the exercise and training accompanying eccentric contractions.

METHODS: Twelve female students assigned either to RICE or non-treatment (NT) group. They performed a bout of 10-knee extension three sets at a load of 10-repetition maximum (RM), in which they lifted up the load with both legs and set down an experimental leg for 5-second. The subjects in the RICE group were treated for their frontal thigh of the experimental leg with RICE after the exercise, while the subjects in the NT group were not treated. The the subjects in both groups were taken their venous blood pre-exercise, post-RICE, on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 7th day after the exercise. Then, the subjects in both groups began resistance training, in which they performed the same exercise and were treated with or without RICE. The training was conducted 3-day per week and continued for 4-week.

RESULTS: Blood CK level represented biphasic increase on the 1st and 7th day after the exercise in both groups, which tended to be higher in the NT group. Monocyte level increased on the 1st to 2nd day after the exercise and then decreased, while neutrophil level decreased and then increased on the 7th day after the exercise. There was a tendency for monocyte and neutrophil levels in the NT group to be higher than those in the RICE group. Positive significant relationships were found between changes in monocyte and blood CK levels, and between those in neutrophils and blood CK levels. Maximal strength of the knee extension in both groups was increased by the resistance training, which was significantly in the 3rd and 4th week of the training in the NT group.

CONCLUSIONS: Exercise-induced slight muscle damage results in a modest initial increase of monocytes and a delayed increase of neutrophils, which are inhibited by RICE treatment. Improvement of maximal strength by the resistance training is greater under the condition without RICE than that with RICE, suggesting that increases of monocyte and neutrophil levels after resistance training are related to restoration of the muscle fiber, indirectly.