The purpose of this study was to determine if there were any beneficial effects of massage or microwave diathermy regarding delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and indices of muscle damage. Twenty-one adult women, randomly divided in two treatment groups and a control group, performed eccentric stepping exercise with the quadriceps until exhaustion. The treatment groups additionally performed massage or microwave diathermy after the stepping exercise. Pressure pain threshold measure for DOMS and muscle enzymes in the blood were obtained before, and 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours after exercise.
The results were as follows;
1. Eccentric exercise caused DOMS and elevations of muscle enzymes in the blood, with peak values observed at 0 hours (LDH, GOT) or 24 hours (DOMS, CK, CRP) after exercise. LDH activity returned to pre exercise levels by 24 hours after exercise and GOT and CRP by 72 hours after exercise. DOMS and CK activity remained elevated 72 hours after exercise.
2. DOMS and blood muscle enzymes response to eccentric exercise were reduces by massage or micro diathermy therapy. DOMS was significantly decreased at 72 hours after exercise by massage and microwave diathermy. CK activity was significantly decreased at 72 hors after exercise by microwave diathermy. There was the significant reduction in LDH at 48 hours, GOT at 24, 48, 72 hours, and CRP at 24, 48 hours after exercise by massage and microwave diathermy.
These results indicate that massage or microwave diathermy is had effect on recovery from exercise induced muscle damage. In our´ s suggestion, microwave diathermy is particularly more appropriate therapeutic modality because it is more simple and economic than massage.
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