Effect of Myofascial Decompression on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness Following Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage

Smith, Mackenzie

Publication

Effect of Myofascial Decompression on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness Following Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage

Smith, Mackenzie

Date

2018

Additional date(s)

2018-05-19

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of myofascial decompression (MFD) on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and associated responses following an exercise-induced muscle damage protocol (EIMD). Ten college students underwent a battery of baseline testing including relaxed and flexed arm angle, arm girth, isometric strength, muscle tenderness, and muscle soreness, followed by an EIMD protocol of 25 eccentric bicep curls. MFD was performed on the experimental arm, the control arm received no treatment, and the same battery of testing was performed post, 24, 48, and 72 hours after intervention. A two-factor ANOVA of condition by time with repeated measures and a p < .05 showed no differences between conditions. Main effects of time existed for relaxed and flexed arm angle (p= .000), isometric strength (p=. 038), muscle tenderness (p= .006), and muscle soreness (p=. 000). EIMD produced expected muscle damage effects in all variables except arm girth and isometric strength. This was the first study to implement MFD at an early stage of the muscle repair/DOMS process; however, no statistically significant results appeared between conditions. These findings suggest that for MFD to be successful in reducing DOMS and the effects of EIMD, it may be necessary for MFD to be used later in the repair process.