Author(s): SQUIRES, E., WALSHE, I., HAYMAN, O., DODD, A., MCHUGH, M.P., HOWATSON, G., Institution: NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY, Country: UNITED KINGDOM, Abstract-ID: 867

INTRODUCTION:
Tart cherries (TC) possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties and are a popular nutritional strategy for exercise recovery. However, since exercise-induced oxidative stress and inflammation are thought to contribute to the adaptation process, TC supplementation might reduce adaptive responses. The repeated bout effect (RBE), the protective effect following eccentric exercise, serves as a model to understand acute adaptation. This study examined whether TC supplementation attenuates the adaptive response.
METHODS:
Twenty-one recreationally active participants performed two bouts of 40 maximal lengthening contractions of the elbow flexors, separated by two weeks. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either freeze-dried TC powder or a placebo (11 TC, 10 placebo) for 8 days in total, with the first exercise bout on day 5. Maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), muscle soreness (DOMS), pain pressure threshold (PPT), range of movement (ROM), upper arm limb girth and creatine kinase (CK) were assessed at 24, 48 and 72 h post-exercise.
RESULTS:
TC did not reduce muscle damage markers after the first bout. Both groups demonstrated RBE for DOMS, PPT, and CK in bout 2. The placebo group showed faster MVC and ROM recovery in bout 2, while the TC group showed no differences between bouts for MVC, ROM, or girth. At 24 h post-bout 2, MVC recovered to 96±17% in placebo and 83±15% in TC.
CONCLUSION:
This is the first study investigating powdered TC’s effect on acute adaptation following muscle damage. TC did not affect symptoms of pain, ROM and CK responses but showed evidence of attenuated adaptation in the repeated bout for MVC and limb girth.