madman
Super Moderator
ABSTRACT
Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) describes an entity of ultrastructural muscle damage. The manifestation of DOMS is caused by eccentric muscle contractions or unaccustomed forms of exercise. Clinical signs include impaired muscular force capacities, painful restriction of movement, stiffness, swelling, and altered biomechanics in adjacent joints. Although DOMS is categorised as a mild type of muscle damage, it is one of the most common reasons for compromised sportive performance. In the last decade, many hypotheses have been developed to explain the aetiology of DOMS, and there are a wide range of different interventions aiming to prevent or alleviate the symptoms. Many studies have evaluated various types of cold or heat therapy, compression, massage, physical therapy or nutritional interventions. Treatment considerations focus on the primary prevention of ultrastructural lesions during exercise, the treatment of the inflammatory response that leads to DOMS, and recovery strategies for manifest DOMS. This narrative review aims to present an overview of the current treatment and preventive strategies in the field of DOMS.
▶ Fig.1 Illustrating the pathophysiological pathway of exercises, Exercise Induced Muscle Damage (EIMD) and Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS).
▶ Fig.2 Cold water immersion therapy (CWI) after exhausting exercise of the lower legs.
▶ Fig.3 Compression therapy at the calf with conventional compression garments ( in this case compression class 1, 18–21mm Hg) .
Conclusions
There is a wide range of available methods to accelerate the recovery process, minimize muscle soreness and optimize the recovery of DOMS impaired muscular force capacities. Due to the wide varieties of different strategies in therapy of DOMS, the responsible sports physician has still the difficult task to define the optimal treatment regime for every single athlete in a case by case decision. Further, physicians have to stay informed about future developments as a superordinate strategy has not been found yet. Generally, the time of application in context of the different healing phases should be considered. One of the most common strategies used to prevent DOMS in case of EIMD is CWI. Studies have demonstrated promising results with regard to recovery, although effects on performance enhancement remain unclear. Compression, particularly applied during the postexercise period, has been shown to be an effective way to reduce the clinical symptoms of DOMS and to accelerate the recovery of muscle function. In addition to these two methods, the majority of studies have focused on diverse cold and heat interventions, physical therapy, active forms of regeneration, massage or medication and nutrition strategies, but there is still no clear evidence to support these interventions in general.
Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) describes an entity of ultrastructural muscle damage. The manifestation of DOMS is caused by eccentric muscle contractions or unaccustomed forms of exercise. Clinical signs include impaired muscular force capacities, painful restriction of movement, stiffness, swelling, and altered biomechanics in adjacent joints. Although DOMS is categorised as a mild type of muscle damage, it is one of the most common reasons for compromised sportive performance. In the last decade, many hypotheses have been developed to explain the aetiology of DOMS, and there are a wide range of different interventions aiming to prevent or alleviate the symptoms. Many studies have evaluated various types of cold or heat therapy, compression, massage, physical therapy or nutritional interventions. Treatment considerations focus on the primary prevention of ultrastructural lesions during exercise, the treatment of the inflammatory response that leads to DOMS, and recovery strategies for manifest DOMS. This narrative review aims to present an overview of the current treatment and preventive strategies in the field of DOMS.
▶ Fig.1 Illustrating the pathophysiological pathway of exercises, Exercise Induced Muscle Damage (EIMD) and Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS).
▶ Fig.2 Cold water immersion therapy (CWI) after exhausting exercise of the lower legs.
▶ Fig.3 Compression therapy at the calf with conventional compression garments ( in this case compression class 1, 18–21mm Hg) .
Conclusions
There is a wide range of available methods to accelerate the recovery process, minimize muscle soreness and optimize the recovery of DOMS impaired muscular force capacities. Due to the wide varieties of different strategies in therapy of DOMS, the responsible sports physician has still the difficult task to define the optimal treatment regime for every single athlete in a case by case decision. Further, physicians have to stay informed about future developments as a superordinate strategy has not been found yet. Generally, the time of application in context of the different healing phases should be considered. One of the most common strategies used to prevent DOMS in case of EIMD is CWI. Studies have demonstrated promising results with regard to recovery, although effects on performance enhancement remain unclear. Compression, particularly applied during the postexercise period, has been shown to be an effective way to reduce the clinical symptoms of DOMS and to accelerate the recovery of muscle function. In addition to these two methods, the majority of studies have focused on diverse cold and heat interventions, physical therapy, active forms of regeneration, massage or medication and nutrition strategies, but there is still no clear evidence to support these interventions in general.
