简介:Theforcedlengtheningofanactivatedskeletalmusclehasbeentermedaneccentriccontraction(EC).ThisreviewhighlightsthemechanicallyuniquenatureoftheECandfocusesonthespecificdisruptionofproteinswithinthecellknownascytoskeletalproteins.Themajorintermediatefilamentcytoskeletalprotein,desmin,hasbeenthefocusofworkinthisareabecausechangestodesminoccurwithinminutesofECsandbecausedesminhasbeenshowntoplaybothamechanicalandbiologicroleinamuscle'sresponsetoEC.Itishopedthatthesetypesofstudieswillassistindecreasingtheincidenceofmuscleinjuryinathletesandfacilitatingthedevelopmentofnewtherapiestotreatmuscleinjuries.