It has been shown that prior forced shortening and lengthening contractions may result to more pronounced upregulation in type IV collagen degradation capacity after repeated bout of contractions. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether type of previous exercise affects on the changes caused by lengthening contractions in type IV collagen degradation capacity measured as expression of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP). The left TA muscles of 12 week-old male Wistar rats were subsequently subjected to 240 forced shortening or lengthening contractions. Tetanic contractions were induced by electrical stimulation of the common peroneal nerve. Shortening or lengthening of TA muscles were performed by either plantar or dorsiflexion of the foot at the ankle joint with rotational velocity of 500 °/s. 15d later half of the both groups were subjected to second bout of exercise, forced lengthening contractions. The contralateral leg was used as a control. Histological examination of TA showed severe skeletal muscle fiber injury 4d after forced lengthening contractions and both types of repeated bout of exercise (shortening + lengthening or lengthening + lengthening), but only slight histopathological changes after forced shortening contractions. MMP-2 inhibitory activity of TIMP-2 elevated remarkable 4d after both shortening and lengthening contractions. TIMP-2 was still elevated 15d and 30d after single bout of exercise. Interestingly, the second bout of exercise (lengthening contractions) 4d after did not cause as remarkable increase as the single bout exercises. Actually, MMP-2 inhibitory activity of TIMP-2 was in the same level as at 15d after single bout exercise. Changes in inhibitory activity of TIMP- 1 were more moderate than changes in TIMP-2. Together the results suggest that MMP degradation capacity is higher after repeated bout exercise than after single bout exercise.