Introduction: Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a common form of pain in skeletal muscle, which occurs after unaccustomed physical activity, especially after eccentric exercises. Pain intensity increases within the first 72 hours and subsides after five to seven days. Symptoms are decreased muscle performance, pain, swelling, stiffness, and decreased range of motion. DOMS is usually mitigated once it is already present or attenuated by use of preventive measures. It is assumed that vibration therapy attenuates development of DOMS, however research in this area is still in its infancy. Purpose: Aim of this case series is to pilot research protocol for studying effects of preventive local vibration therapy on development of DOMS and potential changes in involuntary contractility of skeletal muscles after intensive eccentric exercise. Methods: Four subjects participated in the study. DOMS was induced in their elbow flexors of both upper limbs with exercise intervention of four sets of ten repetitions of supramaximal eccentric elbow extensions. Tensiomyography and pressure-pain threshold measurements were performed prior to, and at 24, 48 and 72 h post exercise. DOMS intensity was assessed with visual analog scale at 24, 48 and 72 h post exercise. Just prior to the exercise, one minute of local vibration therapy was applied to elbow flexors of one arm (experimental arm), while the other arm received no intervention (control arm). Results: There were no difference between average tensiomyography parameters of experimental and control arm post exercise; individual responses were quite variable. DOMS intensity was higher in control arm, whereas pressure-pain threshold was higher in the experimental arm. Discussion and conclusion: Our results showed that use of preventive vibration therapy before exercise lowers intensity of delayed onset muscle soreness but has no preventive effect on contractile properties of the muscle. Due to small sample of participants and deviations in tensiomyographic parameters between participants the results cannot be generalized. The research protocol proved adequate for studying effects of DOMS, however the tensiomyographic parameters need additional evaluation of validity and specificity in this context.
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