Cardinal signs of acute inflammation include redness, heat,
swelling, pain, and impairment of function. 25 Among these
signs, swelling, pain, and impairment of muscle function appear
in eccentric-exercise–induced muscle damage. 2,25 Our
findings of reduced muscle swelling in the massage condition
may support the concept of an ameliorated inflammatory response
after treatment, as does the smaller CK efflux observed.
Because we did not measure direct indicators of inflammation,
it is not possible to state that the severity of DOMS is linked
to the processes of inflammation and/or subsequent muscle
edema. Further study is necessary to investigate how massage
affects the inflammatory responses induced by eccentric exercise.