Effects of intermittent pneumatic compression on delayed onset muscle soreness and recovery of muscular fatigue

Abstract

Background: Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a prominent factor that contributes to the decline in athletic performance. However, there is an ongoing debate regarding the efficacy of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) in preventing or treating exercise-induced muscle injuries such as DOMS.

Objective: To characterize the therapeutic effect of IPC on DOMS induced by plyometric exercise.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Department of Sport and Health Sciences, Nanjing Sport Institute.

Participants: Twenty healthy untrained male college students.

Intervention: Participants were randomized into an IPC group (n = 10) and a control group (n = 10). DOMS was induced by performing lower limb plyometric exercises. After exercise, the IPC group was treated for 15 minutes with the same built-in protocol of the IPC device immediately and 24, 48, and 72 hours after exercise. Muscle soreness and condition were measured 1 hour before, immediately after, and at intervals of time following exercise: 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours.

Main outcome measures: Muscle soreness was measured using the visual analog scale (VAS) and muscle condition was measured using tensiomyography.

Results: Compared to control conditions, participants in the IPC group demonstrated significantly improved recovery in muscle soreness (VAS), maximal radial displacement (Dm) and contraction time (Tc) in single muscle contractions of lower limb muscle performance. Compared to the control group, the IPC group showed significant differences in VAS, Dm, and Tc (all p < .05 at 48 and 72 hours post exercise), and sustain time (Ts) (p < .05, 72 hours after exercise). Moreover, 48 hours after exercise, the VAS score was strongly negatively correlated with Dm and positively correlated with Tc, delay time, relaxation time, and Ts.

Conclusions: IPC may mitigate exercise-induced DOMS following plyometric exercise. These findings suggest that the peak therapeutic effects appear 48-72 hours after exercise.