The purpose of this study is to evaluate the metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects of eccentric endurance exercise and to compare them with those of concentric exercise in healthy sedentary individuals.

Physical exercise decreases the risk of obesity, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease. Skeletal muscle can be exercised by two ways: Concentric contraction is defined as active shortening of muscles, e.g. by stepping upwards, whereas eccentric muscle contraction is defined as active resistance to stretching, e.g. by stepping downwards. Although the effects of exercise (i.e. the combination of concentric and eccentric muscle contraction) on metabolic parameters have been extensively investigated, there are no data on the specific metabolic effects of concentric versus those of eccentric muscle work in humans.

Comparison(s): Metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects of eccentric endurance exercise (i.e. stepping upwards), compared to metabolic and anti-inflammatory effects of concentric exercise (i.e. stepping downwards).

Inclusion Criteria:

• healthy men and women
• age over 30 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• previous systematic endurance training (≥3 times per week ≥30 min)
• body mass index >30 kg/m2
• heavy smoking (>20 cigarettes per day)
• regular alcohol consumption >60g per day
• established musculoskeletal disease
• history of cardiovascular disease
• diabetes mellitus
• unwillingness to stay in the area for the whole study period