The large variability in responses among
individuals to the effects of eccentric exercise has made comparison
with control conditions difficult. Most of the previous
authors of massage studies12,13,15,17 have compared massage
and control groups composed of different populations of subjects.
The inconsistency among subjects in response to eccentric
exercise is likely to act as a confounding factor, reducing
the likelihood of exposing any positive effects the massage
therapy may have provided. One solution to this problem is
to use a ‘‘limb-to-limb’’ comparison model, in which a treatment
limb is compared with responses from the contralateral
(untreated) limb of the same subject. Two groups14,16 used a
leg-to-leg comparison model by assigning one leg to massage
and the contralateral leg to the control condition. No investigators
have used an arm-to-arm comparison model to investigate
the effects of massage on DOMS and other markers of
muscle damage after eccentric exercise. Because of the subjective
nature of pain sensation, comparing the massage and
control conditions in the same subject would be preferable.