Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

The Use of Thermal Infra-Red Imaging to Detect Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
Published on: January 22, 2012
Dehydration and symptoms of delayed-onset muscle soreness in normothermic men
Michelle A Cleary1, Michael R Sitler, Zebulon V Kendrick
1Florida International University, Miami, FL 33199, USA. clearym@fiu.edu
Context:
A dehydrated individual who performs eccentric exercise may exacerbate skeletal muscle damage, leading to structural, contractile, and enzymatic protein denaturation, in addition to the myofiber and connective damage resulting from the eccentric muscle tension.
Objective:
To identify the effects of dehydration on 5 physiologic characteristics of delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in normothermic men after an eccentric exercise perturbation.
Design:
Randomized group test-retest design.
Setting:
Laboratory.
Patients Or Other Participants:
Ten healthy male volunteers randomly assigned to either a euhydration (age = 26.2 +/- 4.9 years, height = 174.1 +/- 6.0 cm, mass = 86.5 +/- 15.3 kg) or dehydration (age = 25.8 +/- 2.2 years, height = 177.2 +/- 3.1 cm, mass = 84.4 +/- 3.8 kg) group.
Intervention(S):
Subjects performed treadmill walking for 45 minutes in either a thermoneutral (euhydration) or a hot, humid (dehydration) environment. After a rest period to allow for return to the normothermic condition, DOMS was induced with a 45-minute downhill run.
Main Outcome Measures:
We assessed 5 physiologic characteristics of DOMS before and at intervals after the eccentric exercise. The characteristics were perceived pain of the bilateral quadriceps and overall body, bilateral punctate tenderness of the superficial quadriceps muscles, bilateral knee-flexion passive range of motion, bilateral thigh circumference, and bilateral isometric quadriceps muscle strength. Thermoregulatory and cardiovascular measures were obtained to monitor participants' heat load during exercise.
Results:
The experimental protocol produced a 0.9% increase in body mass of the euhydration group and a significant 2.7% decrease in body mass of the dehydration group. The downhill-running exercise perturbation induced DOMS in both the euhydrated and dehydrated participants, based on increased bilateral quadriceps and overall body perceived pain and punctate tenderness of the bilateral vastus medialis muscle. The signs and symptoms of DOMS after an eccentric exercise perturbation were not exacerbated by moderate dehydration of 2.7% body mass after rest and return to the normothermic condition.
Conclusions:
Significantly dehydrated participants who rested and returned to a normothermic condition did not experience increased characteristics of DOMS.
Related Concept Videos
Muscle Recovery and Fatigue
Disorder of Water Balance
Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when the body loses fluids (particularly water).
Causes:
The major causes of dehydration include excessive sweating, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and diuresis.
Signs and Symptoms:
Symptoms primarily include intense...
Decreased Body Temperature
Disorders of the Skeletal Muscle
Musculoskeletal disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders involve injuries and conditions affecting the skeletal muscles and associated connective tissues. These disorders can arise from acute biomechanical stresses or chronic overuse and can occur across different age groups. Common injuries include sprains, fractures, and muscular strains, often resulting from...
Homeostatic Imbalances in Body Temperature
Increased Body Temperature
