Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation,
Faculty of Health Sciences, Başkent University, Ankara, Turkey | [b] Mother and Child Health Care and Family Planning
General Directorate, Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey |
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Emine Handan Tüzün, PT, PhD,
Associate Prof., Başkent University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department
of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Eskisehir Yolu 20.Km, Baglica, Ankara,
Turkey. Tel.: +90 312 2341010/1633; Fax: +90 312 2341054; E-mail:
[email protected]
Abstract: Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness of low dose pulsed ultrasound
for the treatment of delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Methods: Ninety female university students participated in a
double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. The subjects were randomly
assigned into three equal groups. DOMS was induced in the non-dominant elbow
flexors of all subjects with voluntary eccentric contractions on a dynamometer.
Group 1 was treated with pulsed ultrasound (spatial average-temporal peak
intensity: 0.8 W/cm^{2}, spatial average-temporal average: 0.16 W/cm^{2},
pulse ratio 1:4 for 10 minutes over 5 consecutive days). Group 2 received sham
pulsed ultrasound and the control group received no treatment. The results of
therapy were assessed by evaluating perceived muscle soreness, elbow flexor
muscle strength, range of motion, and creatine kinase activity. Results: A Friedman's repeated-measures test for muscle
soreness results demonstrated a significant change in the mean of perceived
muscle soreness in all groups. The first significant decrease in muscle
soreness occurred 144 hours after exercise in the experimental and control
groups and 120 hours after the exercise in the placebo group. At the end of
treatment, there were no significant differences in muscle soreness among the 3
study groups. Conclusion: Low dose pulsed ultrasound therapy did not
significantly reduce the effects of DOMS on soreness perception, active-elbow
flexion angle, or muscle strength.
