Downhill running increases markers of muscle damage and impairs the maximal voluntary force production as well as the late phase of the rate of voluntary force development

To examined the time-course of the early and late phase of the rate of voluntary force development (RVFD) and muscle damage markers after downhill running.

Ten recreational runners performed a 30-min downhill run at 10 km h⁻¹ and −20% (−11.3°) on a motorized treadmill. At baseline and each day up to 4 days RVFD, knee extensors maximum voluntary isometric force (MVIC), serum creatine kinase (CK) concentration, quadriceps swelling, and soreness were assessed. The early (0–50 ms) and late (100–200 ms) phase of the RVFD, as well as the force developed at 50 and 200 ms, were also determined.

MVIC showed moderate decrements (p < 0.05) and recovered after 4 days (p > 0.05). Force at 50 ms and the early phase were not impaired (p > 0.05). Conversely, force at 200 ms and the late phase showed moderate decrements (p < 0.05) and recovered after 3 and 4 days, respectively (p > 0.05). CK concentration, quadriceps swelling, and soreness increased (p < 0.05) were overall fully resolved after 4 days (p > 0.05).

Downhill running affected the knee extensors RVFD late but not early phase. The RVFD late phase may be used as an additional marker of muscle damage in trail running.