Effects of percussive massage treatment with theragun on pain and muscle length on post exercise delayed onset muscle soreness of calf muscles in healthy population

Background: People who engage in unusually intense or prolonged physical activity frequently experience delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). DOMS may be treated using percussion massage therapy, which employs a portable tool to administer quick, repeated strikes to the muscle tissue. While there hasn't been much research done on the effects of Theragun specifically. Objective: to determine the effects of percussive massage treatment with theragun on pain and muscle length on post-exercise delayed onset muscle soreness of calf muscles in the healthy population. Methodology: This randomized control trial (NCT05026944) was conducted at Kasrat Health and Fitness Club, Lahore, Pakistan. The study was approved by the research ethical committee of Riphah International University Islamabad (REC/RCR &AHS/21/0410) A total of n=24, healthy females, age ranging from 20-30 years with post-exercise DOMS of calf muscles were included. All the study participants were randomly divided into group A received Percussive Massage Treatment with Theragun in addition to stretching exercises, while group B only received stretching exercises. The outcome variables were pain on NPRS and short-form McGill pain (SF-McGill) and calf muscle length with Goniometer, measured on the baseline, after 24 hours, after 48 hours and after 72 hours. Results: The mean age was 25.8±3.00 years, and BMI was 24.7±4.72 kg/m2 respectively. Both groups showed significant improvement (p<0.05) from the baseline to the end of treatment at each level of assessment. The group comparison showed that both the groups are not significantly different (p≥0.05) in all variables except left calf muscle length, which showed significant improvement (p<0.05) in group A, at the end of treatment, as compared to group B. Conclusion: It was concluded that individuals with post-exercise DOMS treated with theragun percussive massage increased the calf muscle length, however, no significant difference was seen in pain when compared with the static stretching group. Keywords: muscle flexibility; muscle soreness; percussion therapy; stretching exercises.