Delayed onset muscle soreness and training.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review discussing mechanisms and referencing non-quantified laboratory observations
What was done
This narrative review summarizes proposed physiological mechanisms of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and describes laboratory observations on the effects of eccentric exercise (specifically downhill running) and subsequent exercise bouts spaced 6 weeks apart without intervening training.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data or statistical analyses. It notes that eccentric exercise induces muscle cellular damage, motor performance decrements, and soreness mediated by free nerve endings around muscle fibers. It also reports that performing a single bout of downhill running reduced soreness and estimated muscle damage during a repeated bout administered 6 weeks later.
Why it matters
It highlights the repeated bout effect, showing that even a single novel eccentric exercise session can trigger long-lasting prophylactic adaptations against subsequent muscle damage and soreness.
Limits
The abstract provides no sample size, participant demographics, quantitative outcome measurements, statistical testing, or detailed experimental methodology.
Cited by
- supports Exercise-induced muscle soreness is primarily caused by the eccentric component of exercise.