In a systematic review and meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Physiology, researchers analyzed 11 articles (involving 504 participants) to evaluate the effects of massage therapy on alleviating delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and muscle performance after strenuous exercise.
The researchers found that muscle soreness rating decreased significantly when the participants received massage intervention compared with no intervention. Massage therapy also improved muscle maximal isometric force and peak torque.
The findings suggest that massage therapy after strenuous exercise could be effective for alleviating DOMS and improving muscle performance.
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