Immediate effects of isometric versus isotonic exercise on pain sensitivity and motor performance of ankle plantiflexor muscles

• Sebastian Eustaquio Martín Pérez ^[3] ; Isidro Miguel Martín Pérez ^[1] ; Patricia León Ramírez ^[3] ; Antonio José Rodríguez-Pastrana Trujillo ^[3] ; Enrique Cabrera Cabrera ^[3] ; Eleuterio Atanasio Sánchez Romero ^[4] ; María Dolores Sosa Reina ^[4] ; José Luis Alonso Pérez ^[3] ; Jorge Hugo Villafañe ^[2] ; Josué Fernández Carnero ^[3]
  1. [1] Universidad de La Laguna

     Universidad de La Laguna

     San Cristóbal de La Laguna, España

     
  2. [2] Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico

     Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico

     Milán, Italia

     
  3. [3] European University of the Canary Islands
  4. [4] European University of Madrid

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• Localización: Scientific Journal of Sport and Performance, ISSN-e 2794-0586, Vol. 2, Nº. 1, 2023, págs. 105-118
• Idioma: inglés
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  • This study aimed to quantify the differences on pain sensitivity and motor performance ankle plantiflexor muscles after performing an isometric versus an isotonic exercise task. A parallel experimental trial was carried out at the European University of the Canary Islands. A total of 47 healthy volunteers were recruited and randomly assigned to a group receiving an isometric exercise (n = 23) and a group receiving an isotonic exercise (n = 24). Pain threshold to pressure was measured at four specific points of the triceps surae neurosensory territory in medial gastrocnemius, lateral gastrocnemius, Tendo Achilles osteotendinous unit and aponeurosis plantar insertion. Furthermore, the two-point discriminatory threshold of the osteotendinous junction of the Achilles tendon and maximum voluntary contraction for plantar flexion were assessed before and after the intervention. There were no statistically significant intergroup differences for any of the variables PPT-MG (U Mann Whitney = 25; [1.265-0.650], p = .527), PPT-LG (U Mann Whitney = 25; [1.325-0.945]; p = .527) y PPT-TA (U Mann Whitney = 25; [-1.465-0.405] p = .527), D2P (U Mann Whitney = 30.5, IC95% [-0.800-1.300], p = .630) and MVC-PF (U Mann Whitney = 26.5, IC95% [-8.400, 2.900], p = .386). Isometric exercise was the only one able to modify the PPT-AP before and after treatment in a statistically significant way. In contrast, isotonic exercise was the training that demonstrated clinically significant changes in 2PD and MVC-PF before and after treatment. No statistically significant changes were identified between both groups in any of the variables studied.