An experimental study considering which modality of treatment either sports massage or articulation influences delayed onset muscle soreness post exercise
Item
- Title
- An experimental study considering which modality of treatment either sports massage or articulation influences delayed onset muscle soreness post exercise
- Author(s)
- Sparrowhawk, V
- Abstract
- Background ln the past research into sports massage and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) has been vastly anecdotal and equivocal due to methodologicalflaws and the difficulty to compare and replicate studies due to individual differences and the measurement of pain. There are, however a number of studies that have found promising results towards using massage as a treatment for DOMS {Lightfoot et al., L997; Mancinelli, 2006). There is also an idea that within osteopathic treatment, by using articulation techniques which engage with the lymphatic system this could potentially help with the symptoms of DOMS (Hodge, 2012). Aims/objectives The aim of this study is to determine whether sports massage received immediately post intense eccentric exercise is more effective in reducing symptoms of DOMS than a general articulation of the lower extremity post intense eccentric exercise. Design This is a between subject quantitative experimental design study with three randomly assigned groups, one being a control, a second group receiving a massage after the intense eccentric exercise session and the third group receiving a general articulation routine to the lower extremity after the intense eccentric exercise session. Methods Participants undertook a training programme to induce DOMS. There were 3 groups, a massage group, an articulation group and a control group. Participants that were in the intervention groups received their intervention post intense eccentric exercise were then asked to record their pain levels daily for one week using a 0-10 visual analogue scale where the results were then collected. Results The results showed that the massage group reported significantly lower DOMS than the articulation group (p<0.0001) and the control group (p<0.0001). Further tests revealed that Day 2 (p=0.00098) and Day 3 (p=0.0022) were all significant for the massage group when compared to the articulation and control group. Discussion Statistical significance was found between the groups and on days for the massage group. There are several limitations recognised within the experiment which allows an opening for greater future research in this area to provide greater clarity. Conclusion The results from this research support other theories into using massage as treatment for DOMS however; this research tends to suggest the notion that massage should be used as a preventative treatment for DOMS rather than an actual treatment as the results show that once DOMS is present massage has no effect.
- presented at
- European School of Osteopathy
- Date Accepted
- 2017
- Date Submitted
- 4.12.2017 17:06:21
- Type
- osteo_thesis
- Language
- English
- Submitted by:
- 62
- Pub-Identifier
- 16065
- Inst-Identifier
- 1229
- Recommended
- 0
- Item sets
- Thesis
Sparrowhawk, V, “An experimental study considering which modality of treatment either sports massage or articulation influences delayed onset muscle soreness post exercise”, Osteopathic Research Web, accessed April 22, 2025, https://library.wso.at/s/orw/item/471