体针加中药内调对延迟性肌肉酸痛的治疗作用

延迟性肌肉酸痛是运动员在运动训练中经常遇到的肌肉酸痛感觉。通常在超习惯性运动负荷后8～24h发生,其表现主要是肌肉有酸痛感或拌有肿胀、僵硬等症状。延迟性肌肉酸痛的发生对运动员的训练是一个重要的障碍,用惯常的按摩、理疗、淋浴等治疗方法,效果不佳。本研究试用了体针与中药内调相结合的方法进行治疗,效果较为理想,对今后延迟性肌肉酸痛治疗的深入研究有参考作用和意义。1 对象与方法体校摔跤、柔道男运动员18名,年龄13～18岁,训练年限3～5年。队员的肩、背、腰或下肢均有不同程度的肌肉损伤、酸疼和僵硬,症状的出现均有月余…     

推拿对一次性离心运动后延迟性肌肉酸痛的影响

背景：推拿是运动性疲劳防治的常用手段之一,但有关推拿防治延迟性肌肉酸痛疗效的客观评价较少。目的：评价推拿对一次性离心运动后延迟性肌肉酸痛的影响。设计、时间及地点：对比观察,于2008—04／07在南京中医药大学完成。对象：将30名健康男性学生按照条件对等原则随机分成对照组和运动前推拿组、运动后推拿组共3组,每组10名。方法：运动前推拿组学生于训练前在左上肢进行30min的推拿,推拿结束5min后开始训练。运动后推拿组学生于训练后30min在左上肢进行30min的推拿,并在此后的3d内按规定的时间继续接受推拿治疗,30min/次,1次／d。对照组学生仅参加训练,不做任何的准备活动或整理活动,也不接受任何治疗。主要观察指标：观察训练前、训练后即刻、训练后24,48,72h测定肌肉酸痛程度和持续时间、最大等长收缩力量、臂围、肘关节的屈伸度,训练前1h、训练后即刻、训练后24,48h血清肌酸激酶的变化。结果：与对照组相比,运动前推拿组、运动后推拿组的肌肉酸痛持续时间明显缩短,酸痛的程度明显减轻（P〈0．01,P〈0．05）,运动后72h的肌肉最大等长收缩力量的恢复明显（P〈0．01）,运动后72h的血清肌酸激酶升高幅度明显降低。运动前推拿组运动后即刻的肘关节屈曲程度变化明显小于对照组（P〈0．05）,运动后推拿组在运动后72h的肘关节伸直程度的恢复明显优于对照组（P〈0．05）;运动前推拿组、运动后推拿组的臂围变化与对照组无明显差异。结论：运动前推拿能一定程度预防延迟性肌肉酸痛,减轻延迟性肌肉酸痛的严重程度,而运动后推拿能一定程度促进延迟性肌肉酸痛的恢复。     

延迟性肌肉酸痛的机制及其理论研究

延迟性肌肉酸痛妨碍了大部分运动员或普通人运动能力的发挥,因此探讨延迟性肌肉酸痛的产生机制对于预防或治疗延迟性肌肉酸痛有着举足轻重的作用。但诱发延迟性肌肉酸痛的内在机制尚未完全清晰。新近的一些研究成果表明延迟性肌肉酸痛可能与肌节重塑过程、微循环紊乱和外周神经系统的变化有关。文章就形成延迟性肌肉酸痛的机制学说进行述评,并试图依据此提出相应治疗原则。     

全身振动训练对脑卒中偏瘫患者本体感觉及平衡功能的影响

目的:探讨全身振动训练对脑卒中偏瘫患者本体感觉及平衡功能的影响。方法:采用随机、对照研究,将50例脑卒中偏瘫患者分为治疗组和对照组,每组25例,两组给予常规康复治疗,在此基础上对照组增加全身振动平台站立,但不实际训练,治疗组增加全身振动训练,每日1次,每次15min,每周5次,治疗前及治疗8周后采用等速肌力评估系统评估患者的本体感觉主动角度重现测试值(AAR),采用简化Berg平衡功能量表(BBS)评定患者平衡功能,采用Gait watch步态分析系统评价患者步幅及步速。结果:治疗前两组患者的本体感觉、BBS、步态评定,组间差异无显著性意义(P0.05),治疗后两组AAR、BBS及步态评定均优于治疗前水平,差异有显著性意义(P0.05)。且治疗后治疗组AAR、BBS、步态评定步幅、步速较对照组优异,差异有显著性意义(P0.05)。结论:全身振动训练可以改善脑卒中偏瘫患者本体感觉,并可以改善平衡功能,该疗法值得临床推广应用。     

深层肌肉刺激结合手法肌肉放松治疗延迟性肌肉酸痛的疗效观察

目的:观察深层肌肉刺激结合手法肌肉放松治疗延迟性肌肉酸痛的临床疗效,探讨更为有效的临床治疗方法。方法:将48名受试者随机分为联合治疗组(n=24)、手法肌肉放松组(n=24),两组患者诱发延迟性肌肉酸痛后,分别给予不同干预措施,联合治疗组进行深层肌肉刺激结合手法肌肉放松,而手法肌肉放松组给予单纯肌肉放松,对两组患者的治疗效果进行比较和分析。结果:联合治疗组在运动后24 h的血液肌酸激酶浓度、乳酸浓度和肌红蛋白浓度下降幅度显著高于手法肌肉放松组(P0.05,P0.01,P0.01);联合治疗组在运动后24 h肌肉酸痛的改善显著优于常规手法治疗组(P0.01),踝关节活动范围和小腿周径恢复程度显著优于手法肌肉放松组(P0.05,P0.05)。结论:深层肌肉刺激仪结合手法肌肉放松对延迟性肌肉酸痛有优越的治疗效果,是一种值得临床推广应用的治疗方法。     

全身水平振动训练对心血管系统的影响与机制进展

全身水平振动训练作为一种新型治疗和/或训练方法,可对心血管系统产生一定影响,其具体作用表现为:降低肺动脉压,改善心脏血液微循环,提高全身组织和器官血流量。全身水平振动训练可能是在提高血流速、增加血管内皮剪切力、激活磷脂酰肌醇3激酶/丝氨酸苏氨酸蛋白激酶(PI3K-Akt)和丝裂原细胞外信号调节激酶/细胞外信号调节激酶(MEK-ERK1/2)信号传导通路、促使一氧化氮释放的基础上对心血管系统产生影响。     

全身振动训练在儿童康复的应用

全身振动训练(Whole-body vibration training,WBV)是一种神经肌肉训练方法,主要包含振动频率、振动强度和振动方式三个参数调控。训练过程中训练者站立、坐或半蹲在振动平台上,平台通过对人体施加振动波(通常使用5~60 Hz频率),刺激肌肉纺锤体和α运动神经元等感受器,使神经系统、肌肉-骨骼系统以及心血管系统产生适应性反应进而提高部分身体功能[1]。     

全身振动训练对慢性踝关节不稳影响的Meta分析

目的:系统评估全身振动训练对慢性踝关节不稳的影响。方法:计算机全面检索PubMed、Embase、The Cochrane Library、Web of science、Science direct、知网、万方、维普数据库,搜索关于全身振动训练治疗慢性踝关节不稳的随机对照试验(RCT),检索时间控制从建库至2019年7月。由两位评审员独立的筛选文献、资料提取并进行质量评估,采用Revman5.3软件进行Meta分析。结果:最终纳入7篇文献,总计222例患者。Meta分析结果显示,与对照组相比,全身振动训练可更有效地改善慢性踝关节不稳患者的Y平衡测试评分[WMD=5.69,95%CI(4.33,7.06),P<0.01]、患侧单足稳定指数[WMD=-0.13,95%CI(-0.17,-0.10),P<0.01]、腓骨长肌反应时[WMD=-7.14,95%CI(-13.41,-0.86),P=0.03];而基于当前证据,全身振动训练在提高功能量表方面与对照组差异无统计学意义[SMD=-0.16,95%CI(-0.63,0.31),P=0.50]。结论:当前证据表明,全身振动训练可有效改善慢性踝关节不稳患者的平衡能力,增强腓骨长肌的神经肌肉反应能力。     

推拿对DOMS作用机理的研究概况

延迟性肌肉酸痛是困扰运动医学界多年的话题，人们至今没有找到它确切的发生机理，学术界推测其发生机理可能为肌肉微损伤、肌肉痉挛缺血及炎症反应等。推拿对延迟性肌肉酸痛有很好的疗效，本文从外周机制、脊髓水平、中枢水平及心理调节四方面来论述推拿对延迟性肌肉的疗效机制。     

镜像疗法结合全身振动训练对脑卒中后单侧空间忽略的影响CSCD

目的:探讨镜像疗法结合全身振动训练对脑卒中后单侧空间忽略患者的康复疗效。方法:根据纳入标准,选取2019年10月—2020年12月就诊于黑龙江中医药大学附属第二医院康复中心的脑卒中后单侧空间忽略患者90例,按照随机分组法分为镜像组、振动组和结合组,每组30例。镜像组采用镜像疗法专用镜盒进行上肢和手部镜像训练,根据患者功能情况的差异,选择不同的动作任务,如修饰、进食、系扣子、翻书、持物训练等,每次30 min,1次/d,每周6 d,持续8周;振动组采用全身振动训练,应用德国SVG公司生产的Wellengang振动治疗仪,振动频率30 Hz,振动幅度3 mm,总时间30 min,1次/d,每周6 d,持续8周;结合组采用镜像疗法(20 min)+全身振动训练(10 min)的方式,每周6 d,持续8周。3组分别于治疗前后采用凯瑟琳-波哥量表(CBS)测评患者存在空间忽略的严重程度;采用简易智能精神状态量表(MMSE)测评患者认知功能障碍;采用简化的Fugl-Meyer评定量表(FMA)测评患者的上肢运动功能;采用Barthel指数量表(BI指数)测评患者的生活自理能力。结果:治疗前3组CBS评分、MMSE评分、FMA评分、BI评分比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05);治疗8周后,3组的CBS评分均较治疗前明显降低,MMSE评分、FMA评分、BI评分均较治疗前明显升高,但结合组优于镜像组和全身振动组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:镜像疗法结合全身振动训练能更有效地改善脑卒中后单侧空间忽略患者的空间忽略程度、认知功能障碍,提高上肢运动功能和生活自理能力。     

The effects of continuous external compression on delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS)

Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a sensation of soreness that develops 24–48 hr after intense unaccustomed exercise. Clinical characteristics of DOMS include local tissue edema, decreased muscle strength, and decreased range of motion. Although controversial, some research has implicated swelling as a cause or contributor to soreness. We designed this study to determine the effects of continuous external compression on swelling resulting from eccentric contraction and the accompanying clinical characteristics of DOMS. Twenty-three healthy college students (16 females, 7 males; X age=26.0 years) completed 70 maximal eccentric contractions of the elbow flexors to induce soreness and then received random assignment to either a control or a compression sleeve group. The compression sleeve group wore an elastic compression sleeve on the exercised arm, extending from the deltoid insertion to the wrist, throughout the study. We obtained measures of subjective soreness, range of motion (ROM), circumference, arm volume, and isokinetic peak torque for both groups immediately before exercise and 10 min and 24, 48, and 72 hr after exercise. No significant differences were present between groups at any time reference for any of the dependent variables. Soreness peaked at 48 hr and then began to decline. Circumference and volume measurements increased over time with the greatest difference occurring 72 hr postexercise. Subject's ROM and peak torque decreased immediately following exercise and continued to be lower than baseline during the next 72 hr. Continuous external compression, which prior research has shown to be an effective treatment of edema resulting from a variety of acute injuries, was not effective in reducing the edema associated with DOMS, nor was it effective in reducing soreness, strength loss, or ROM loss as a result of DOMS in elbow flexors. Therefore, the clinical use of compression garments in treating DOMS in upper extremities is questionable.     

Pressure pain threshold mapping of the trapezius muscle reveals heterogeneity in the distribution of muscular hyperalgesia after eccentric exercise

This study aimed at investigating in details the spatial characteristics of muscular hyperalgesia after development of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in the trapezius muscle. High density pressure pain mapping consisting of 36 pain pressure threshold (PPT) recording points were assessed over the trapezius muscle from 20 subjects. PPT were recorded before, immediately after and 24 h after eccentric exercise/rest for the exercise group (N = 10) and the control group (N = 10). A 36 points geometric grid was used on both the exercise and control groups. The eccentric exercise used to elicit DOMS consisted of 50 contractions against a downward pressing force at 100% maximum voluntary contraction in bouts of 10 contractions followed by 2 min break. For the exercise group, PPT values decreased significantly over time for all points (P < 0.001) but not for the control group. At baseline, both muscle belly sites and upper part of the trapezius were more sensitive than muscle belly sites and middle and lower parts (P < 0.001 for both). The hyperalgesia was also mostly developed in the muscle belly sites (P < 0.001), further enhancing its position as the most sensitive part of the muscle. The present results showed the topographical distribution of pressure pain sensitivity over the trapezius muscle and also that hyperalgesia developed in a heterogeneous manner over the trapezius muscle in response to eccentric exercise underlining sensory partitioning of the muscle. The technique of high density pressure pain topographical mappings can be helpful in characterizing muscle hyperalgesia and its heterogeneity.     

Acupuncture can be beneficial for exercise-induced muscle soreness: A randomised controlled trial

IntroductionStrenuous physical exercise may cause acute muscle soreness (AMS), which occurs directly after exercise, as well as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), which occurs about 24 h after exercise. Studies of acupuncture's effect on DOMS have had contradictory results, whereas its effect on AMS has not been extensively studied. The main goal of this study was to evaluate acupuncture's effects on AMS and DOMS and on the prevention of DOMS.Method45 volunteers were randomised into a verum acupuncture group, a sham acupuncture group and a control group. After exercise-induced muscle damage was elicited, muscle soreness and pressure pain threshold were assessed at different time points. The outcome assessments were performed before (T1) and 20 min after the first acupuncture treatment (T2); then, 24 h later, they were performed before (T3) and 20 min after the second acupuncture treatment (T4). In the verum and sham acupuncture groups, acupuncture was performed for 2 min, immediately after T1 and T3 assessments, whereas subjects in the control group simply rested for 2 min without treatment. Verum acupuncture was given at ST34, ST36 and LR3, whereas sham acupuncture was given at three nontraditional points. Results: We found that verum acupuncture can reduce the occurrence of AMS by one-half and DOMS by one-third. We also found specific and nonspecific acupuncture effects in AMS and DOMS.ConclusionThe uneven induction of muscle damage identified by our study, as shown by heterogeneity in pressure pain threshold values, may have led to the contradictory results in published studies on DOMS.     

Peripheral blood leucocyte functional responses to acute eccentric exercise in humans are influenced by systemic stress,but not by exercise-induced muscle damage

The effects of comparable lower-limb eccentric exercise that induces high (bench-stepping; STEP) and low (repeated eccentric muscle action; ECC) systemic stress on neutrophil and monocyte phagocytic and respiratory burst activity, and activation antigen (CD11b, CD66b, CD64) expression, were compared in recreationally active subjects (20-37 years old). Leucocyte responses were determined before and 4, 24, 48 and 72 h after exercise using whole-blood flow cytometry. Serum creatine kinase (CK) activity and perceived muscle soreness [delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS)] were assessed at the same time points up to 96 h; as a control, measurements were taken during 5 days of rest. DOMS in quadriceps and contralateral triceps surae peaked 24-72 h after STEP (P <0.05) and 48-72 h after ECC (P <0.05), whereas serum CK activity (mean+/-S.E.M.) was only higher than baseline after ECC (15,123+/-3,488 at 96 h compared with 115+/-29 units x l(-1) pre-exercise; P <0.01). The total leucocyte count increased from (5.4+/-0.4) x 10(9) x l(-1) and (5.7+/-0.5) x 10(9) x l(-1) at baseline to (7.6+/-0.5)x10(9) x l(-1) and (7.0+/-0.5) x 10(9) x l(-1) at 4 h after STEP and ECC respectively; this was largely attributable to changes in the neutrophil count (P <0.05). The proportion of neutrophils undergoing phagocytosis and respiratory burst was unchanged 4 h after ECC and STEP, which, given the increase in neutrophil count after exercise, would suggest an overall improvement in systemic neutrophil microbicidal potential. The intensity of neutrophil (P =0.01) and monocyte (P <0.05) phagocytosis and neutrophil respiratory burst responses (P <0.05) was only increased 24 h after STEP, whereas no changes in these measures were observed after ECC. Activation antigen expression was unchanged in all groups. These findings suggest that systemic stress evoked during an acute bout of eccentric exercise has a greater influence on subsequent leucocyte functional responses than the degree of muscle damage induced.     

Effects of Vibratory Stimulations on Maximal Voluntary Isometric Contraction from Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of vibratory stimulation on maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) from delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). [Subjects] Sixty healthy adults participated in this study. The exclusion criteria were orthopedic or neurologic disease. [Methods] The researchers induced DOMS in the musculus extensor carpi radialis longus of each participant. Subjects in the control group received no treatment. The ultrasound group received ultrasound treatment (intensity, 1.0 W/cm^2; frequency 1 MHz; time, 10 minutes). The vibration group received vibration stimulation (frequency, 20 MHz; time, 10 minutes). Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) was recorded at baseline, immediately after exercise, and 24, 48, and 72 hours after exercise. [Results] MVIC measurements showed statistically significant differences in the vibration group compared with the control group. [Conclusion] Vibratory stimulation had a positive effect on recovery of muscle function from DOMS.Key words: Vibratory stimulation, Ultrasound, Isometric contraction     

水中运动治疗对脑卒中患者下肢运动功能及日常生活活动能力效果的Meta分析

目的 系统评价水中运动治疗对脑卒中患者下肢运动功能及日常生活活动能力的干预效果。 方法 检索Cochrane Library、PEDro、PubMed、EMBASE、Web of Knowledge、Web of Science、OVID、EBSCO、CMCI、CNKI、Wanfang和VIP数据库,筛选脑卒中患者水中运动治疗的随机对照试验(RCTs),进行方法学质量评价,提取相关数据,采用RevMan 5.3软件进行Meta分析。 结果 最终纳入23项RCTs,共861例患者。与对照组相比,水中运动治疗可改善患者Berg平衡量表评分(WMD = 4.61, 95%CI 3.79~5.43, P < 0.001)、计时起立-行走测试成绩(WMD = -1.56, 95%CI -3.07~-0.05, P < 0.05)、功能性前伸测试成绩(WMD = 2.69, 95%CI 1.21~4.16, P < 0.001)、压力中心移动速度(左右) (WMD = -1.38, 95%CI -2.72~-0.05, P < 0.05)、压力中心移动速度(前后) (WMD = -1.64, 95%CI -3.10~ -0.18, P < 0.05)、步速(SMD = 0.33, 95%CI 0.07~0.58, P < 0.05)、2分钟步行测试成绩(WMD = 12.75, 95%CI 4.17~21.34, P < 0.01)、功能性步行量表分级(WMD = 0.94, 95%CI 0.67~1.20, P < 0.001)、膝关节伸肌肌力(WMD = 4.30, 95%CI 1.53~7.07, P < 0.01)、膝关节屈肌肌力(WMD = 4.80, 95%CI 0.29~9.32, P < 0.05)和功能独立性测试评分(WMD = 6.12, 95%CI 3.98~8.27, P < 0.001),但对改良Barthel指数评分无明显改善作用(WMD = 2.92, 95%CI -6.74~12.58, P = 0.55)。 结论 水中运动治疗能够改善脑卒中患者的平衡功能、步行能力和下肢肌力,但对日常生活活动能力的效果不明显。     

Evaluation of muscle damage using ultrasound imaging

[Purpose] This study aimed to quantitatively analyze characteristics of and changes in internal muscle structure according to the time of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) using ultrasound imaging, thereby presenting clinical evidential data for evaluation of muscle damage. [Subjects] We recruited 38 male subjects. [Methods] Ultrasound images of the medial gastrocnemius muscle prior to induction of DOMS and immediately after, 24 hours after, 48 hours after, and 72 hours after induction of DOMS were obtained, and the thickness and pennation angle of the muscle were measured. [Results] The muscle thickness gradually increased until 48 hours after induction of DOMS and decreased after 72 hours. The pennation angle also gradually increased until 48 hours after induction of DOMS and decreased after 72 hours. [Conclusion] Ultrasound imaging is considered useful for assessment of structural characteristics of muscles when muscle damage like DOMS takes place.Key words: DOMS, Muscle thickness, Pennation angle     

The effects of kinesio taping on architecture,strength and pain of muscles in delayed onset muscle soreness of biceps brachii

[Purpose] This study aimed to confirm the effects of kinesio taping (KT) on muscle function and pain due to delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) of the biceps brachii. [Subjects and Methods] Thirty-seven subjects with induced DOMS were randomized into either Group I (control, n=19) or Group II (KT, n=18). Outcome measures were recorded before the intervention (application of KT) and at 24, 48, and 72 hours after the intervention. DOMS was induced, and muscle thickness was measured using ultrasonic radiography. Maximal voluntary isometric contraction (%MVIC) was measured via electromyography (EMG). Subjective pain was measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS). [Results] Group I exhibited a positive correlation between muscle thickness and elapsed time from intervention (24, 48, and 72 hours post induction of DOMS); they also showed a significant decrease in MVIC(%). Group II showed significant increases in muscle thickness up to the 48-hour interval post induction of DOMS, along with a significant decrease in MVIC (%). However, in contrast to Group I, Group II did not show a significant difference in muscle thickness or MVIC (%) at the 72-hour interval in comparison with the values prior to DOMS induction. [Conclusion] In adults with DOMS, activation of muscles by applying KT was found to be an effective and faster method of recovering muscle strength than rest alone.Key words: Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS), Kinesio taping, Muscle change     

Continuous low-level heat wrap therapy for the prevention and early phase treatment of delayed-onset muscle soreness of the low back: a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of continuous low-level heat wrap therapy for the prevention and early phase treatment (ie, 0-48 h postexercise) of delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) of the low back. DESIGN: Two prospective randomized controlled trials. SETTING: Outpatient medical facility. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-seven subjects asymptomatic of back pain and in good general health (mean age, 23.5+/-6.6 y). INTERVENTIONS: Participants performed vigorous eccentric exercise to experimentally induce low back DOMS. Participants were assigned to 1 of 2 substudies (prevention and treatment) and randomized to 1 of 2 treatment groups within each substudy: prevention study (heat wrap, n=17; control [nontarget muscle stretch], n=18) and treatment study (heat wrap, n=16; cold pack, n=16). Interventions were administered 4 hours before and 4 hours after exercise in the prevention study and between hours 18 to 42 postexercise in the treatment study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: To coincide with the expected occurrence of peak symptoms related to exercise-induced low back DOMS, hour 24 postexercise was considered primary. Pain intensity (prevention) and pain relief (treatment) were primary measures, and self-reported physical function and disability were secondary measures. RESULTS: In the prevention study, at hour 24 postexercise, pain intensity, disability, and deficits in self-reported physical function in subjects with the heat wrap were reduced by 47% (P<.001), 52.3% (P=.029), and 45% (P=.013), respectively, compared with the control group. At hour 24 in the treatment study, postexercise, pain relief with the heat wrap was 138% greater (P=.026) than with the cold pack; there were no differences between the groups in changes in self-reported physical function and disability. CONCLUSIONS: In this small study, continuous low-level heat wrap therapy was of significant benefit in the prevention and early phase treatment of low back DOMS.     

Effects of local pressure and vibration on muscle pain from eccentric exercise and hypertonic saline

In human subjects the triceps surae of one leg was exercised eccentrically by asking subjects to walk backwards on an inclined treadmill. Before the exercise controlled local pressure, applied to the muscle with an electromagnet, produced mild soreness, which was reduced when the pressure was combined with vibration. When delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) had set in, 24-48 h after the exercise, vibration increased pain from local pressure. Vibrating at different frequencies suggested 80 Hz as the optimal frequency. During 2-h testing post-exercise, evidence of a change in character of the effects of vibration was first detected at 6 h. It persisted up to 72 h post-exercise. When muscle pain was generated in an unexercised triceps by injection of hypertonic (5%) saline, controlled local pressure applied to the sore area increased pain levels by 32% while pressure plus vibration reduced this to 11%. In a subject with DOMS, local pressure again increased pain from saline by 32% but combining it with vibration increased pain further by an additional 20%. The effect of vibration on DOMS could be abolished with a large nerve fibre block applied to the sciatic nerve. It is concluded that the vibration effects are the result of stimulation of large-diameter mechanoreceptive afferents in the muscle which, it is speculated, play a role in generating DOMS.