20.500.12556/RUP-22044 Eccentric quasi-isometric exercise produces greater impulse with less pain than isokinetic heavy–slow resistance exercise in ankle plantar flexors quasi-randomized controlled trial Recently, there has been growing interest in optimizing exercise protocols in sports training and rehabilitation, with particular attention to eccentric quasi-isometric (EQI) contractions, which involve maintaining joint position until isometric failure and then resisting the subsequent eccentric phase. Evidence directly comparing EQI with other contraction modes remains scarce. This quasi-randomized controlled trial examined the short-term effects of EQI versus isokinetic heavy–slow resistance (IHSR) exercises on ankle plantar flexors, focusing on pain, range of motion (RoM), and strength performance. Thirty-two physically active participants were allocated to EQI (n = 16) or IHSR (n = 16) groups and assessed at baseline, immediately post-exercise, and 24 and 48 h later. Both groups performed three exercise sets with 3 min breaks. The protocols were designed to approximate matched loading, based on preliminary testing. Nevertheless, the EQI group achieved a significantly greater total impulse (p = 0.028), a shorter time under tension (p = 0.001), and lower effort scores (p < 0.001). Group × time analysis revealed less decline in maximal voluntary isometric contraction torque (p = 0.002; η2 = 0.16), as well as lower general (p < 0.001; η2 = 0.32) and activity-related pain (p < 0.001; η2 = 0.32) in the EQI group, with no significant differences in dorsiflexion RoM (p = 0.893). In conclusion, EQI produced a higher torque impulse while inducing less fatigue and post-exercise pain than IHSR, suggesting it may be a more efficient loading strategy for the ankle plantar flexors. The results contribute to the understanding of contraction-specific efficiency, and may inform the design of future training and rehabilitation protocols targeting the ankle plantar flexors. eccentric quasi-isometric contraction isokinetic heavy–slow resistance contraction ankle plantar flexors impulse pain range of motion ekscentrična kvazi-izometrična kontrakcija izokinetična počasno-ekscentrična kontrakcija plantarni fleksorji gležnja impulz bolečina obseg giba true false true Angleški jezik Slovenski jezik Članek v reviji 2025-10-27 01:39:56 2025-10-27 01:39:59 2025-11-16 03:06:27 0000-00-00 00:00:00 2025 0 0 str. 1-17 [article no.] 11177 Vol. 15 2025 0000-00-00 Zaloznikova Objavljeno NiDoloceno 0000-00-00 2025-10-17 2025-10-18 615.82 2076-3417 10.3390/app152011177 254790403 https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/20/11177 1 a8d7e7a2-b2cd-11f0-8f0b-005056ac49c0 https://repozitorij.upr.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=31982 https://doi.org/10.3390/app152011177 1 a93d406b-b2cd-11f0-8f0b-005056ac49c0 https://repozitorij.upr.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=31983 RAZ_Krizaj_Luka_2025.pdf RAZ_Krizaj_Luka_2025.pdf 1 FF5572A0C4F0768C83EC8F731ECB63BC 1bee44267ebbd781d8a054617f2c949c7b750ce79c7b1154221811c0bdaaf6c6 197923a3-b2ce-11f0-8f0b-005056ac49c0 https://repozitorij.upr.si/Dokument.php?lang=slv&id=31984 Fakulteta za vede o zdravju 0 0 0