Intervention(s): Subjects performed 10 sets of 6 maximal
isokinetic (908·s21) eccentric actions of the elbow flexors with
each arm on a dynamometer, separated by 2 weeks. One arm
received 10 minutes of massage 3 hours after eccentric exercise;
the contralateral arm received no treatment.
Main Outcome Measure(s): Maximal voluntary isometric
and isokinetic elbow flexor strength, range of motion, upper arm
circumference, plasma creatine kinase activity, and muscle
soreness.
Results: Delayed-onset muscle soreness was significantly
less for the massage condition for peak soreness in extending
the elbow joint and palpating the brachioradialis muscle (P ,
.05). Soreness while flexing the elbow joint (P 5 .07) and palpating
the brachialis muscle (P 5 .06) was also less with massage.
Massage treatment had significant effects on plasma creatine
kinase activity, with a significantly lower peak value at 4
days postexercise (P , .05), and upper arm circumference,
with a significantly smaller increase than the control at 3 and 4
days postexercise (P , .05). However, no significant effects of
massage on recovery of muscle strength and ROM were evident.
Conclusions: Massage was effective in alleviating DOMS by
approximately 30% and reducing swelling, but it had no effects
on muscle function.
Key Words: elbow flexors, muscle strength, range of motion,
creatine kinase