delayed onset muscle soreness

Poster to be presented in ECSS 2026 Lausanne.Abstract:INTRODUCTION: Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) significantly impairs muscular function, leading to substantial reductions in force production and athletic performance. While percussive therapy (PT) is widely used for recovery among athletes, its effectiveness in preserving strength versus remains unclear. The primary aim of this study was to examine the effects of PT on isokinetic peak torque recovery in resistance-trained males. Secondarily, the study investigated changes in thigh muscle thickness and pressure pain threshold (PPT). METHODS: Ten resistance-trained male participants (22.7 ± 3.2 yr) completed this randomized crossover study with a four-week washout period. Bilateral DOMS was induced via an eccentric isokinetic exercise protocol. In the experimental condition (DOMS+PT), participants received PT (30 Hz, 2 min/muscle) immediately post-exercise and after 24- and 48-hour assessments. The control condition (DOMS-only) received no treatment. The primary outcome was concentric peak torque of both knee extensors and flexors, measured using an isokinetic dynamometer at a constant angular velocity of 60°/s. Secondary outcomes included muscle thickness (ultrasound) and PPT (algometry) assessed at baseline, 24, 48, and 72 hours. RESULTS: Knee extension peak torque significantly declined in the DOMS-only group at 24 and 48 hours compared to baseline (p < 0.05), whereas the DOMS+PT group maintained extension strength across all time points. Similarly, knee flexion peak torque showed a significant decrease in the DOMS-only group at 24 hours (p < 0.05), while no such reduction was observed in the DOMS+PT group (p > 0.05). Quadriceps and vastus lateralis muscle thickness increased transiently at 24 h in the PT condition (p < 0.05), while PPT decreased similarly in both groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The most significant finding of this study is that percussive therapy effectively preserved muscle strength during the acute phase of DOMS, preventing the performance decrement observed in the control condition. While PT did not alleviate pain sensitivity and was associated with a transient increase in muscle thickness—likely indicative of enhanced local blood flow rather than structural damage—its ability to maintain force production is critical. These results support the use of percussive therapy as a performance-preservation tool for athletes undergoing intensive training, despite its limited effect on perceived soreness.

matched text: “delayed onset muscle soreness”

Abstract Artificial gravity (AG) combined with resistive vibration exercise has been proposed as a multi‐system countermeasure for long‐duration spaceflight; however, its operational feasibility during prolonged unloading remains insufficiently characterised. This study primarily evaluated the feasibility, tolerability, and adherence to a structured resistive vibration exercise protocol delivered either under artificial gravity (AGRVE) or in horizontal loading (HRVE) during 60 days of hypoxic ( = 0.14) 6° head‐down tilt bed rest. Secondary observations included delayed‐onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and changes in eight‐repetition maximum strength (8RM) to inform load progression. Sixteen healthy male participants were allocated to HRVE ( n = 9) or AGRVE ( n = 8) and completed near‐daily 30‐min training sessions at light (30% 1RM) and moderate (50% 1RM) intensities. Adherence was high in both groups (HRVE: 98.5%; AGRVE: 96.3%). In AGRVE, early‐session interruptions were primarily due to motion sickness or presyncopal symptoms; motion sickness severity declined significantly across repeated centrifugation exposures ( P &lt; 0.001), consistent with vestibular habituation. HRVE interruptions were predominantly fatigue‐related. DOMS remained low throughout the intervention (typically 0–3/10). 8RM increased over time in both groups ( P &lt; 0.001). Progressive resistive vibration exercise can be implemented with high adherence during prolonged hypoxic bed rest, including when combined with AG. Motion sickness represents the principal early operational constraint specific to squat‐based AG exposure but diminishes with repeated sessions.

matched text: “delayed onset muscle soreness”