Yoon, J. K., Bae, Y. J., & Lee J. (2006). Effect of ultrasound treatment on recovery from Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness after eccentric muscle contractions. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 38(5), Supplement Abstract 2171.

This investigation examined the effect of continuous ultrasound treatment during recovery on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) following eccentric muscle contractions.

Non-trained collegiate males (N = 20) were recruited, and randomly assigned to either ultrasound treatment or a placebo-control group. To induce DOMS, Ss performed maximal eccentric contractions of elbow flexors using their non-dominant arm. Each S performed two sets of 25 repetitions in a standardized fashion on a custom-made preacher curl machine. Fifteen minutes of continuous ultrasound for the ultrasound group and sham-ultrasound for the placebo/control group were administered at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours after exercise while the tested upper arms were completely submerged in the water maintained at 35°C. Maximum voluntary isometric contraction, relaxed arm angle, and muscle soreness (visual analog scale) were assessed before and after the treatments. Blood samples were obtained to measure serum creatine kinase and aspartate 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours after treatment.

In all variables, there were no statistical differences in group by time interactions. Serum creatine kinase and aspartate continuously increased up to 96 hrs after exercise in both groups. In the ultrasound group, muscle soreness and relaxed arm angle were significantly different before and after each treatment.

Implication. Water-mediated ultrasound treatments had no effect on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness or other indicators of muscle damage.

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