Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)

“Athletic performance and preparation are typically impaired when an athlete is sore or injured.  Thus, any practice that limits the extent of damage or hastens recovery would be of interest and practical value to the coach, trainer, or therapist.”                                                                                                                                                 - Connolly (linked below)

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is defined as the pain and stiffness felt in muscles several hours to days after unaccustomed or strenuous exercise.  The soreness is felt most strongly 24 to 72 hours after exercise and is caused by eccentric (lengthening) exercise, which causes microtrauma to the muscle fibers. (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_onset_muscle_soreness)

Research

Here are two articles I found interesting with regards to researching DOMS – the mechanism for injury and pain, training considerations after experiencing DOMS, and common prevention/treatment strategies:

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Connolly DA, Sayers SP, McHugh MP. Treatment and Prevention of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness. J Strength Cond Res 2003;17:197-208

http://www.hawaii.edu/hivandaids/Treatment%20and%20Prevention%20of%20Delayed%20Onset%20Muscle%20Soreness.pdf

• Of note in the Connolly article (linked above) are the details about studies involving the efficacy of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); article outlines studies which demonstrate efficacy of NSAIDs in treating DOMS and studies which fail to demonstrate efficacy.

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Cheung K, Hume PA, Maxwell L. Delayed Onset Muscle Sorenss: Treatment Strategies and Performance Factors. Sports Med 2003;33:145-64.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDsQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.researchgate.net%2Fpublication%2F8075169_Delayed_onset_muscle_soreness__treatment_strategies_and_performance_factors%2Ffile%2F32bfe5107156c5591b.pdf&ei=nep_UafpK-rhiwLWkYD4BQ&usg=AFQjCNFe8sgg5lYlF4n1_nFyQZ0H966p_A&sig2=pFIx66h36k7el_SfZwZ6eg

--(link above is for an immediate download of the article)—

• The Cheung article (linked above) is delightfully comprehensive, as well as being relatively current, with discussing many aspects involved with DOMS.  Of note is the discussion about the impact of DOMS on athletic performance (temporary reduction of strength and power, increased injury risk during healing), as well as the extensive details regarding common prevention and treatment strategies for DOMS – authors do a great job providing science-based information about the efficacy of cryotherapy (ice baths), stretching, NSAIDs, electrical current techniques, massage, and compression.

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There seem to exist studies upon studies upon studies that credit and discredit most treatment strategies when it comes to DOMS.  It's difficult to make prevention and treatment recommendations based off the handfuls of incongruous studies; however, I feel it's important to understand why we do something as opposed to doing it because everyone else is doing it (everyone else claims it works).  For example, ice baths seem to be a common practice amongst many advanced athletes, but how do you know they truly work in fighting future muscle soreness/DOMS?  Or maybe you didn't know that others use ice baths not to prevent soreness but to simply dull the current pain of excessive exercise/training (they act as an analgesic)?  By understanding these prevention/treatment techniques, and the "science" behind each practice, one might be able to save time and money - not to mention comfort - when it comes to best recovery practices in athletic training.