Muscle soreness and delayed-onset muscle soreness

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Exercise Physiology
• Muscle Physiology

Background:

• Muscle soreness presents in immediate and delayed-onset forms, sharing pain qualities and functional deficits.
• Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) involves muscle microtrauma, inflammation, fluid shifts, and potential spasms.
• Multiple mechanisms contribute to muscle soreness, not a single cause.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the mechanisms and management of immediate and delayed-onset muscle soreness.
• To explore various treatment modalities for muscle soreness symptoms.
• To highlight reliable management strategies for muscle soreness.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on muscle soreness mechanisms and treatments.
• Analysis of the pathways leading to muscle microtrauma and inflammation.
• Evaluation of diverse therapeutic modalities for symptom relief.

Main Results:

• Muscle soreness results from a complex interplay of six distinct mechanisms.
• DOMS progression involves microtrauma, inflammation, fluid/electrolyte shifts, and muscle spasms.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and continued exercise are identified as reliable management methods.

Conclusions:

• Effective management of muscle soreness requires understanding its multifactorial nature.
• NSAIDs and continued exercise offer reliable relief for muscle soreness symptoms.
• Clinicians must carefully assess and manage muscle soreness and associated deficits.