Our findings support previous results regarding the positive
effects of massage on DOMS. In addition, we found significant
effects of massage on muscle swelling and CK response. The
massage protocols used in previous studies have varied widely
in terms of the timing, duration, and frequency. Most have
consisted of one session of massage at 2 to 4 hours post exercise.
12–15 Only Tiidus and Shoemaker16 repeated the 10-minute
massage 2 and 4 days post exercise. Massage duration has
been between 8 and 30 minutes in previous studies. 12–17 All
groups except Weber et al 12 reported that massage had a positive
effect on DOMS. We also found that massage intervention
reduced soreness more than 30% compared with the control
(see Table 3). This suggests that a massage performed
post exercise but before DOMS develops can alleviate soreness,
no matter how the massage is performed.