Table 2.
Studies analyzing the effects of eccentric training on fat mass.
| Study, year | Population | Technique for body composition measurements | Training intervention | Training duration | Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus et al., 2008 | Adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus Mean age: 50.7 years AE n = 8; AE/RE n = 7 (7 F; 8 M) |
MRI (Thigh intramuscular fat CSA) |
AE: aerobic exercise (treadmill, recumbent stepper, stationary bicycle, rowing machine). Intensity: 60%−85% of age-predicted heart rate. Duration: 50 min. Workload not available AE/RE: recumbent eccentric stepper. Intensity: RPE from “very very light” to “somewhat hard”. Duration: 20 min + aerobic training to complete 50 min. Workload not available |
16 weeks (3 x/week) |
Thigh intramuscular fat CSA AE: – 2.2 cm2 p < 0.05 AE/RE: – 1.2 cm2 p < 0.05 NS between groups |
| Marcus et al., 2009 | Post-menopausal women Mean age: 56.1 years CT n = 6; ECC n = 10 |
DXA (Abdominal fat mass) |
CT: control group with no supervised program ECC: eccentric ergometer. Intensity: RPE from “very very light” to “somewhat hard”. Duration: 30 min. Work increased from 20.3 to 229.7 kJ |
12 weeks (3 x/week) |
Abdominal fat mass CT: + 2.5% NS; ECC: – 3.7% NS |
| Mueller et al., 2009 | Older adults Mean age: 80.6 years CT n = 14; RET n = 21; EET n = 19 (36 F; 26 M) |
DXA (Total body and thigh fat mass) |
RET: 3 sets of 10 reps (leg press, knee extension, leg curl, hip extension) with a progressive load based on RPE and DOMS. Duration 20 min. Volume not available. EET: eccentric ergometer. Intensity: initially set at 30 W for women and 50 W for men, gradually ramped up according to RPE and DOMS. Duration: 20 min. Workload not available CT: computer-guided cognitive training without physical training |
12 weeks (2 x/week) | Whole body fat mass RET: – 0.6% NS EET: – 5.0% p < 0.01; CT: + 1.4% NS Thigh fat mass RET: – 2.7% NS; EET: – 6.9% p < 0.01; CT: + 0.6% NS |
| Jacobs et al., 2014 | Older adults Mean age: 75.5 years TRAD n = 38; ECC n = 9 (57 F; 20 M) |
MRI (Thigh intermuscular adipose tissue) |
TRAD: 3 sets of 15 reps (bilateral leg press), 3 sets of 15 reps (standing multidirectional straight leg exercise). Intensity 60–70% 1 RM + aerobic exercise. Duration: 60 min. Volume (sets × reps × load) 2 700–3 150 ECC: eccentric ergometer. Intensity: RPE from “very very light” to “somewhat hard.” Duration: 15 min + aerobic exercise to complete 60 min. Workload not available |
12 weeks (3 x/week) |
Thigh intermuscular adipose tissue TRAD: – 0.1% NS; ECC: – 0.1% NS |
AE, aerobic exercise; AE/RE, aerobic exercise/resistance exercise; CSA, cross-sectional area; CT, control group; DXA, dual-X-ray absorptiometry; DOMS, delayed onset muscular soreness; ECC, eccentric; EET, eccentric ergometer training; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; NS, non-significant; RET, conventional resistance training; RM, repetition maximum; RPE, rating of perceived exertion; TRAD, traditional resistance training program.