Immediate postexercise massage does not attenuate delayed onset muscle soreness

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of petrassage massage immediately post and 24 hrs postexercise on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and to measure extremity volumes to determine whether petrassage altered the inflammatory response to eccentric exercise. Thirty-one subjects were randomly assigned to either a petrassage (Mass), stretch (Str), or control group. All underwent an eccentric exercise bout at a workload equal to 100% of their body weight. Mass received petrassage for 10 min on the left calf immediately post and at 24 hrs postexercise. Str performed light stretching exercises preexercise to control for expectancy. Control subjects received no treatment. Plasma creatine phosphokinase (CK) levels and leg volumes were determined preexercise and at 24 and 48 hrs post. Subjects rated their calf DOMS on a 0- to 6-point scale at the end of exercise and at 24 and 48 hrs post. There were no differences in soreness levels between right and left legs or between treatment groups over the 48-hr period. Lower leg volumes at 24 and 48 hrs in all groups showed no change from postexercise. It appears that petrassage does not prevent or attenuate DOMS.