Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness and Decreased Isokinetic Strength

Abstract

This study was designed to quantify decrease in muscle function that occur during peak periods of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) resulting from eccentric biased exercise. Ten subjects performed fatiguing eccentric exercise utilizing the elbow flexor muscles of one arm, the experimental arm. The other arm served as the control arm. Pre-exercise, 24 and 48 hours post-exercise measurements of soreness, and elbow extension range of motion (ROM) were obtained. Maximal extension forces of both arms were determined prior to exercise and 48 hours post-exercise. Marked perception of soreness in the experimental arm was accompanied by a statistically significant (p<0.01) decrease of ROM and isokinetic strength. The experimental arm exhibited a 16-degree decrease in ROM at 24 hours and a 28-degree decrease at 48 hours. Similarly, peak torque was reduced by 10.6, 7.1 and 4.7 Nm in the experimental arm at the respective angular velocities of 60, 180 and 240 degrees at 48 hours. Because of the marked decrease in ROM and peak torque that occurred following fatiguing eccentric exercise, it was suggested that a reduction in the training regimen be considered during the first few days following eccentric exercise when DOMS is the greatest and isokinetic strength is altered.