Table 1 Summary of the human studies in which the plantar flexor or the soleus muscle atrophy has been treated with exercise. Comparison with the results achieved in our study.

From: Allopurinol partially prevents disuse muscle atrophy in mice and humans

 

N° of subjects

Muscle

Protocol

Treatment

Control

Intervention

Pre (cm2)

Post (cm2)

% Change

Pre (cm2)

Post (cm2)

% Change

Our study

25 ankle sprain patients

Soleus CSA

15 d of unilateral lower limb immobilization

300 mg/day of allopurinol

31.2 ± 4.6

28.6 ± 5.8

8.6 (p < 0.05)

28.8 ± 4.6

27.7 ± 5.8

4.1 (NS)

26

9 healthy men

Soleus PCSA

20 d of bed rest

Isometric leg-press

41.2 ± 9.5

35.0 ± 6.1

15.0 (p < 0.05)

45.1 ± 9.2

40.3 ± 5.1

10.6 (p < 0.05)

25

15 healthy men

Soleus PCSA

20 d of bed rest

Dynamic leg press: knee extension and plantar flexion

40.3 ± 7.4

35.4 ± 5.2

12.1 (p < 0.01)

56.9 ± 18.1

51.3 ± 17.6

9.8 (p < 0.01)

41

16 healthy men

Plantar flexor CSA

21 d of unilateral lower-limb suspension

High-intensity resistance-training

7.0 (p < 0.05)

~0%

27

12 healthy men

Plantar flexor PCSA

20 d of bed rest

Leg press and plantar flexion resistance training

138.3 ± 19.0

122.2 ± 24.3

12.7 (p < 0.05)

117.9 ± 8.0

115.0 ± 10.5

3.2 (NS)

42

11 healthy men

Plantar Flexor CSA

20 d of unilateral lower limb suspension

Cycling training (80% of VO2peak)

11.2 (p < 0.05)

7.0 (p < 0.05)

  1. PCSA: Physiological Cross Sectional Area. PCSA = Muscle Volume × Cosine of the muscle fiber pennation angle × (fibre length)−1.
  2. NS: Not significant.