Pneumatic Compression Massage Decreases Effects of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness in Active Females

Abstract

Background: Eccentric exercise often results in Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) which causes decreases in muscle strength and power with accompanying prolonged pain. Objectives: The study examined the effectiveness of Pneumatic Compression Massage (PCM) on changes in leg power following DOMS-inducing eccentric hamstring exercises. Pain levels and perceived efficacy of PCM as a recovery method for exercise-induced DOMS was also examined. Methods: Twenty-one active college-aged female volunteers were randomly assigned to PCM or control groups after performing 4-rounds of eccentric Nordic hamstring exercises to failure after which control subjects sat quietly for 10 minutes while the PCM-assigned subjects wore pneumatic compression massage (PCM) leggings for 10 minutes. All variables were evaluated at baseline and at 1-, 24-, 48-, and 72-hours after the exercise sets. Results: Movement economy was significantly greater as PCM had significantly faster ground contact time (GCT) at 24-hrs (p=0.01), 48-hrs (p=0.04), and 72-hrs (p=0.03) compared to control subjects. Leg muscle power output was significantly higher in PCM at 24-hrs (p=0.04), 48-hrs (p=0.05), and 72-hrs (p=0.01), while control subjects had significantly more pain at 72-hrs (p=0.02). Conclusion: PCM applied for 10-minutes every 24-hours following DOMS-inducing eccentric exercise resulted in greater improvements in movement economy, reaction time, jump height, lower limb power, pain, and other DOMS-related symptoms.