Impact Of Protease Supplementation On Pain Perception And Exercise Affect During Cycle Ergometry With DOMS

Abstract

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a common occurrence following intense exercise. It has been suggested that protease supplementation may diminish the effects of DOMS. Additionally, feelings of soreness may adversely impact exercise affect. PURPOSE: To examine the effects of protease supplementation on the perception of pain (PP) and exercise affect following the onset of DOMS. METHODS: This study used a matched-pairs design. Twenty-four participants (12 males: Mean BMI = 24.7 ± 2.1; 12 females; Mean BMI = 20.8 ± 2.3) participated in this investigation. DOMS was induced by performing 6 sets of 10 reps of isokinetic eccentric exercise (EE) at -1.05 rad/sec. Each participant took either 2 protease tablets (PRO) or a placebo (PLAC) 4 times a day for 4 days (from 24 H pre-EE to 48 H post-EE). Supplementation was blinded and randomized. Each participant performed 2 identical, 35 min exercise sessions on a cycle ergometer, one pre-EE and one 2 days post-EE. Intensity for the exercise sessions was set during the initial session by asking each participant to exercise at a "13“ on the Borg RPE scale. The ergometer resistance was recorded and used during the post-EE exercise session. Every 5 minutes during the exercise sessions, PP was assessed using Borg's CR-10 scale and affect was measured using the feeling scale (FS) and the felt-arousal scale (FAS). Results were analyzed using a repeated-measures GLM. RESULTS: No differences were seen between the groups for PP, FS, or FAS during the pre-EE exercise session. Differences were seen for PP at the 5, 25, 30, and 35 minute mark of the post-EE exercise session with the PRO reporting less discomfort than the PLAC (p<0.05). A significant difference was seen for FS with the PRO reporting greater feelings of pleasantness than the PLAC at the 20, 25, 30 and 35 minute mark of the post-EE exercise session (p<0.05). A trend was seen for PP at the 20 minute mark (p= 0.07). No differences were seen between the groups for FAS. CONCLUSION: Protease supplementation may positively influence an individual's responses to exercise following DOMS. This finding may be important in planning exercise programs, especially when considering return to activity following an intense exercise session. This work was supported through funding by Enzymatic Therapy Inc., Green Bay, WI.