Massage and DOMS
Although massage is a commonly used treatment for DOMS,
little scientific evidence exists as to its overall effectiveness
in improving strength and performance outcomes after exercise
(Best et al., 2008; Cheung et al., 2003; Torres et al.,2012). There is however, a growing body of evidence to suggest
that massage can reduce the pain and soreness associated
with DOMS. The following is a collection of studies
investigating the effectiveness that massage may have on
pain, markers of inflammation and muscular breakdown,
strength and power production, and is summarized in Table 1.
Micklewright and colleagues examined 20 male subjects,
new to strength training. The participants were
asked to perform eccentric elbow extensions in order to
induce DOMS. One group received soft tissue release
(STR) while the other received no treatment. DOMS was
assessed at 24 and 48 h after exercise. Researchers did
not find any statistical reduction in the level of soreness
between groups (Micklewright, 2009).
Mancinelli and colleagues examined 22 female basketball
and volleyball players, a group accustomed to exercise.
Subjects were asked to perform quadriceps