What is DOMS?
Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) describes muscle pain and tenderness that typically develops several hours post-exercise and consists of predominantly eccentric muscle actions, especially if the exercise is unfamiliar. Although DOMS is likely a symptom of eccentric-exercise–induced muscle damage, it does not necessarily reflect muscle damage. Some prophylactic or therapeutic modalities may be effective only for alleviating DOMS, whereas others may enhance recovery of muscle function without affecting DOMS.
What are the benefits of massage to help with DOMS?
As we all know, massage helps in a number of ways to flush out a range of toxins and hormones from arteries, veins and lymph system, which your body produces to help it understand when you need to slow down or stop when it comes to exercise.
These toxins and hormones are is a good thing during exercise; they help you understand when you need to give your muscles a break so you don’t strain them or injure a tendon or ligament.
However, post-exercise this can be an annoying effect of your training and can hinder your goals and plans.
There is a solution and it comes in the form of a qualified massage therapist. If you were to arrange a massage post-exercise, this could really help eliminate DOMS all-together or at least speed up your recovery and limit the DOMS effect substantially so you can continue with your training plans the next day.
Sports Massage helps not just to flush your system of these painful and limiting toxins but it also helps lengthen your tight muscles to a normal range and remove any adhesions and trigger points that may have built up over the time you have been training.
To find out more about how this can help and to put a plan in place contact one of our sports massage therapists today and we can give you some free help and advice on this and other sport related issues.
Our therapists are based in Birmingham and operate across the Midlands, offering a fully mobile service so no matter how much pain you are in with your DOMS, we can help!