Effects of exhaustive stretch-shortening cycle exercise on muscle blood flow during exercise

Aim:  The influence of exhaustive stretch-shortening cycle exercise (SSC) on skeletal muscle blood flow (BF) during exercise is currently unknown. Methods:  Quadriceps femoris (QF) BF was measured in eight healthy men using positron emission tomography before and 3 days after exhaustive SSC exercise. The SSC protocol consisted of maximal and submaximal drop jumps with one leg. Needle biopsies of the vastus lateralis muscles were taken immediately and 2 days after SSC for muscle endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β) mRNA level determinations. Results:  All subjects reported subjective muscle soreness after SSC (P < 0.001), which was well in line with a decre…