Massage Alleviates Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness after Strenuous Exercise: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
PubMed 29021762 · doi:10.3389/fphys.2017.00747
What was done
Authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials identified across seven databases (PubMed, Embase, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wanfang) up to December 2016. The review evaluated the effects of post-strenuous exercise massage therapy compared to no intervention on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) ratings, muscle performance (maximal isometric force [MIF] and peak torque), and serum creatine kinase (CK) levels.
What was found
Eleven articles covering 23 data points and 504 participants met inclusion criteria: - Muscle soreness: Significantly reduced with massage compared to control at 24 h (SMD: -0.61, 95% CI: -1.17 to -0.05, P = 0.03), 48 h (SMD: -1.51, 95% CI: -2.24 to -0.77, P < 0.001), 72 h (SMD: -1.46, 95% CI: -2.59 to -0.33, P = 0.01), and overall (SMD: -1.16, 95% CI: -1.60 to -0.72, P < 0.001). - Muscle performance: Massage improved total MIF (SMD: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.90, P = 0.002) and peak torque (SMD: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.71, P = 0.03). - Muscle damage: Serum CK level was significantly reduced with massage (SMD: -0.64, 95% CI: -1.04 to -0.25, P = 0.001).
Why it matters
This meta-analysis provides pooled quantitative evidence that post-exercise massage therapy meaningfully reduces perceived DOMS and serum creatine kinase while providing modest improvements in muscle strength recovery.
Limits
The total sample size is modest (504 participants across 11 trials), and several confidence intervals are wide, indicating potential heterogeneity. The abstract does not report details on massage technique, duration, timing, participant characteristics, exercise modality, or risk of bias.
Cited by
- supports Performing soft tissue work after heavy training decreases delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS).