Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

1
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

• DOMS

2
Acute Muscle Soreness

• Develops during or directly after strenuous
  exercise performed to the point of muscle
  exhaustion
• Occurs as muscle becomes fatigued because of
• Lack of adequate b. flow oxygen
• Temporary buildup of metabolites (lactic acid
  potassium)
• Characterized by burning or aching sensation
  within the muscle
• Noxious metabolic waste may stimulate free nerve
  endings causing pain
• Subsides quickly after exercise
• Use appropriate cool-down period

3
DOMS

• Noticeable in muscle musculotendinous junction
• Develops approx. 12-24 hrs after exercise
• High-intensity eccentric activities cause most
  severe DOMS symptoms
• Symptoms intensify peak 24-48 hours after
  exercise
• May last up to 10-14 days

4
Signs Symptoms

• Muscle soreness aching
• Palpable tenderness in muscle
• Soreness increases with passive stretching or
  active contraction
• Local edema warmth
• Stiffness
• Decreased ROM during time of m. soreness

5
Etiology

• Still unclear
• Theories proposed have been refuted
• Metabolic waste accumulation theory
• Soreness caused by lactic acid buildup after
  practice
• Muscle spasm theory
• Feedback cycle of pain caused by ischemia
  metabolic waste buildup led to spasm
• Current research DOMS may be linked to some
  form of contraction-induced microtrauma to m.
  fibers /or CT
• Strength perception of m. soreness occur
  independently follow different time courses
• Damage to Z bands

6
Prevention

• Progression of volume intensity of exercise
• Perform low-intensity warm-up cool-down
  activities
• Stretching before after exercise
• (Previous 3 have not been proven)
• Vitamin C E supplements taken every day for
  approx. 1 week prior to initiation of vigorous
  eccentric exercise has been shown to minimize DOMS

7
Treatment

• Efficacy of treatment has been mixed
• Light, high-speed (isokinetic) concentric
  exercise has been reported to reduce m. soreness
• Therapeutic modalities massage
• E-stim effective ineffective
• Cryotherapy effective ineffective
• Massage no significant evidence
• topical agents - effective
• No definitive treatment has been determined