Physical therapy interventions for the treatment of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS): Systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of interventions on pain associated with DOMS.

DATA SOURCES: PubMed, EMBASE, PEDro, Cochrane, and Scielo databases were searched, from the oldest records until May/2020. Search terms used included combinations of keywords related to "DOMS" and "intervention therapy".

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Healthy participants (no restrictions were applied, e.g., age, sex, and exercise level). To be included, studies should be: 1) Randomized clinical trial; 2) Having induced muscle damage and subsequently measuring the level of pain; 3) To have applied therapeutic interventions (nonpharmacological or nutritional) and compare with a control group that received no intervention; and 4) The first application of the intervention had to occur immediately after muscle damage had been induced.

RESULTS

One hundred and twenty-one studies were included. The results revealed that the contrast techniques (p = 0,002 I2 = 60 %), cryotherapy (p = 0,002 I2 = 100 %), phototherapy (p = 0,0001 I2 = 95 %), vibration (p = 0,004 I2 = 96 %), ultrasound (p = 0,02 I2 = 97 %), massage (p < 0,00001 I2 = 94 %), active exercise (p = 0,0004 I2 = 93 %) and compression (p = 0,002 I2 = 93 %) have a better positive effect than the control in the management of DOMS.

CONCLUSION

Low quality evidence suggests that contrast, cryotherapy, phototherapy, vibration, ultrasound, massage, and active exercise have beneficial effects in the management of DOMS-related pain.