Hillbert, J. E., Sforzo, G. A., & Swenssen, T. (2001). The effects of massage on delayed onset muscle soreness. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 33(5), Supplement abstract 699.

Ss (N = 18) were randomly assigned to a massage or control group. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) was induced by performing six sets of eight maximal eccentric contractions of the right hamstring. Massage and sham-massage (control) lasted 20 minutes. Peak torque, POMS, neutrophil count, and soreness were assessed at 2, 6, 24, and 48 hours post-exercise.

The only statistically significant finding was that massage lowered DOMS at 48 hours post-exercise.

Implication. Post-exercise massage is largely ineffective in altering DOMS after extremely fatiguing resistance exercise.

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