Dexamethasone iontophoresis: effect on delayed muscle soreness and muscle function

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Exercise Physiology
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a common consequence of strenuous eccentric exercise.
• Effective pain management and functional recovery are crucial for athletes and active individuals.
• Current treatments for DOMS often focus on symptom relief without fully restoring muscle function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of dexamethasone iontophoresis in alleviating DOMS pain.
• To investigate the impact of dexamethasone iontophoresis on muscle function after eccentric exercise.
• To compare the effects of dexamethasone iontophoresis against placebo and no treatment.

Main Methods:

• 18 female subjects underwent eccentric exercise to induce DOMS.
• Muscle soreness perception (SP), maximum isometric knee extension contraction (MVC), peak torque (PT), and work (W) were measured at baseline, 24, and 48 hours.
• An experimental group received dexamethasone iontophoresis, a placebo group received sham iontophoresis, and a control group received no treatment at 24 hours.

Main Results:

• Dexamethasone iontophoresis significantly reduced perceived muscle soreness at 48 hours post-exercise compared to placebo and control groups (p < 0.05).
• No significant differences were observed in MVC, PT, or W between the experimental, placebo, and control groups at 48 hours.
• The treatment demonstrated a targeted effect on pain perception rather than muscle function recovery.

Conclusions:

• Dexamethasone iontophoresis is an effective modality for managing pain associated with DOMS.
• The treatment does not appear to enhance the recovery of muscle strength or torque following eccentric exercise.
• Further research may explore combined therapies to address both pain and functional deficits in DOMS.