Effects of muscular biopsy on the mechanics of running

Muscle biopsy is a widely used technique in protocols aiming at studying physical capacities and fiber profiles of athletes, and muscular adaptations to exercise. Side effects of biopsy alone on physiological parameters have recently been pointed out, and we sought to determine whether a single biopsy had effects on the main stride mechanical parameters. Ten male runners performed 4-min runs before and after undergoing a biopsy of their left vastus lateralis muscle. Step frequency and duty factor were significantly higher after biopsy (2.86 ± 0.14 vs. 2.82 ± 0.15 Hz, and 0.77 ± 0.04 vs. 0.75 ± 0.05, respectively), whereas other factors were significantly lower: maximal vertical ground reaction force (1,601 ± 240 vs. 1,643 ± 230 N), loading rate (53.9 ± 12.8 vs. 58.4 ± 13.5 bw s⁻¹), center of mass vertical displacement (0.056 ± 0.008 vs. 0.058 ± 0.008 m) and external mechanical work at each step (1.14 ± 0.10 vs. 1.24 ± 0.10 J kg⁻¹ step⁻¹). These effects were observed on the left (biopsed) leg, but also on the right one for the external mechanical work, the duty factor and the maximal vertical ground reaction force, showing that a single biopsy had both ipsi- and contralateral effects on running mechanics.