Exercise-induced increase in serum creatine kinase is modified by subsequent bed rest.

This study was designed to find out if bed rest, which is known to markedly reduce peripheral lymph flow, immediately after strenuous exercise could affect the behaviour of creatine kinase activity (CK) in serum. Eleven endurance athletes performed an 18 km cross-country run, after which six of the subjects were placed in bed rest group (BR) for 23 hours, while a group of five control subjects maintained their normal habitual activity (C). After the bed rest all subjects performed a light jogging bout for 45 min. Seven hours after the exercise serum CK was increased threefold (p < 0.05) in both groups. During the next 16 hours serum CK increased further 30% in C (p < 0.05) but decreased (p < 0.05) in a similar magnitude in BR. Light jogging elicited a transient CK increase of 16% (p < 0.05) in C, but there was no change in BR. The fact that serum CK increased similarly in both groups during the first hours after the exercise shows that the transport of CK from muscles into circulation can be maintained for some hours despite absence of muscular activity. However, the later post-exercise serum CK response may be diminished by bed rest (effect of posture and/or lack of muscle function). The reduced response is also seen in the CK response to a repeated exercise. These observations suggest that a short-term physical inactivity (bed rest) may reduce both the lymphatic transport of CK and the release of enzyme from muscle fibres.