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Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

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Encyclopedia of Pain

Synonyms

Delayed muscle soreness; DOMS; Exercise-induced muscle soreness

Definition

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is the sensation of muscular discomfort and pain during active contractions that occur 24–48 h after strenuous exercise. The initial symptoms are most evident at the muscle-tendon junction and thereafter spread throughout the entire muscle. Muscle soreness and injury are associated with intense exercise and are more pronounced if the exercise performed is new to the individual.

Characteristics

Sore muscles after exercise are stiff, tender, and aching, symptoms that are aggravated by active muscle contractions. The symptoms of DOMS develop during the first 24–48 h, peak between 24 and 72 h, and usually disappear without intervention within 5–7 days (Armstrong 1984; Ebbeling and Clarkson 1989; Fridén et al. 1981). The soreness has been reported by some to be localized at the muscle-tendon junction, while others describe the pain as being diffusely spread throughout...

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References

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Correspondence to Jan Fridén .

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© 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Fridén, J. (2013). Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness. In: Gebhart, G.F., Schmidt, R.F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Pain. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28753-4_1018

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