Introduktion: Plyometrisk träning är en högintensiv träningsform för att förbättra atletisk prestation som exempelvis explosiv styrka och effektutveckling. Plyometrisk träning i vatten är däremot mindre undersökt men tidigare forskning tyder på att det verkar ha liknande effekter som landbaserad plyometrisk träning. Syfte: Litteraturundersökningens syfte är att undersöka om det finns en effekt av plyometrisk träning i vatten på hopphöjd, muskelstyrka och muskelömhet. Ytterligare ett syfte är att jämföra effekterna mellan plyometrisk träning i vatten med landbaserad plyometrisk träning på hopphöjd, muskelstyrka och muskelömhet. Metod: En systematisk sökning genomfördes i de vetenskapliga databaserna Pubmed och Web of Science. Utöver detta genomsöktes samtliga referenser på de artiklar som uppfyllde inklusionskriterierna. Resultat: Litteraturundersökningen visade att plyometrisk träning i vatten verkar ha en effekt på hopphöjd. Muskelstyrka och muskelömhet visade inget tydligt utfall. Plyometrisk träning i vatten verkar ha samma effekt på hopphöjd och muskelstyrka som landbaserad plyometrisk träning. Vattenbaserad plyometrisk träning verkar ge mindre muskelömhet jämfört med landbaserad plyometrisk träning. Konklusion: Det behövs mer forskning i området för att fastställa vilka faktorer som gör att vattenbaserad plyometrisk träning är lika effektiv som landbaserad träning för att förbättra hopphöjd. Det behövs mer forskning på plyometrisk träning i vatten associerad till muskelstyrka och muskelömhet för att få en tydligare bild av effekterna / Introduction: Effects of plyometric training to improve athletic performance such as explosive strength and power development are well-documented. However, less is known about the effects of aquatic plyometric training. Previous research suggests that it appears to have similar effects as land-based plyometric training. Purpose: The purpose of the literature review was to investigate if there is an effect of aquatic plyometric training on jump height, muscle strength and muscle soreness. Another aim was to compare the effects of plyometric training in water with land-based plyometric training on jump height, muscle strength and muscle soreness. Method: A systematic literature search was conducted in the scientific databases Pubmed and Web of Science. In addition, all references were manually searched on the articles that met the inclusion criteria. Results: The literature review shows that aquatic plyometric training seems to have an effect on jump height. Muscle strength and muscle soreness showed no clear outcome. Aquatic plyometric training seems to have the same effect on jump height and muscle strength as land-based plyometric training. Aquatic plyometric training seems to give less muscle soreness compared to land-based plyometric training. Conclusion: More research is necessary to determine which factors make aquatic plyometric training as effective as land-based plyometric training to improve jump height. More research is needed on aquatic plyometric training associated with muscle strength and muscle soreness to get a better understanding of the effects.

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Performance of a series of eccentric contractions produces adverse effects including muscle weakness, delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), fluid accumulation and decreased muscle function. The repeated bout effect is a physiological adaptation observed when a single-bout of eccentric exercise protects against muscle damage from subsequent eccentric bouts. Similar to the repeated bout effect, increases in flexibility have been linked to attenuations in acute muscle damage, muscle fatigue and strength loss after eccentric exercise. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the muscle physiological responses to eccentric strength training after first priming the muscles with either a period of static flexibility training or a single intense bout of eccentric exercise performed weeks earlier; and compare these to the responses from eccentric strength training when no prior intervention is administered. Methods: Twenty-five participants were randomly assigned to a flexibility (F) (n=8), a single-bout (SB) (n=9), or a control (C) (n=8) group. The design consisted of two 4-week phases; 1) priming intervention, 2) eccentric training. The priming intervention included static stretching (3x/week; 30mins/day) (F), a single-bout of eccentric exercise (SB) or no priming intervention (C). All groups proceeded to complete eccentric training of the knee flexors using isotonic contractions (%load progressively increased over training period) on a dynamometer following the priming intervention phase. Testing was completed at baseline, post-priming intervention and post-eccentric training, in conjunction with data being collected during the acute eccentric training phase (0hr, 24hr, 48hr; post-bout 1 and 4). Dependent measures included muscle thickness, isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), eccentric and concentric MVC, optimal angle, active range of motion (ROM), passive ROM, maximal power, electromyography (EMG) and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Results: Acute data during the eccentric training phase revealed a significant reduction in DOMS for both the F and SB groups compared to the C following the first bout of eccentric exercise (p<0.05). The F also had reduced soreness in comparison to both the SB and C post fourth bout of eccentric exercise (p<0.05). The F group demonstrated attenuated loss in isometric strength (post fourth bout) and maximal power (post first bout) during eccentric training compared to the C group (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between groups across all dependent variables following the eccentric training phase. Conclusion: This is the first study to directly compare the protective effects observed with static flexibility training to that of a single-bout of eccentric exercise throughout a subsequent eccentric training regime. Although differences in muscle soreness, strength and maximal power occurred during the acute stages of eccentric training, there appeared to be no significant advantage of either protective priming method at the end of eccentric training.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da corrente interferencial na sensibilidade dolorosa e no torque muscular dos músculos flexores e extensores do joelho após a realização de um protocolo de exercícios excêntricos. A amostra foi constituída de 41 indivíduos saudáveis do sexo masculino com idade entre 18 e 33 anos, que foram divididos aleatoriamente em dois grupos experimentais: grupo corrente interferencial (n=21) e grupo placebo (n=20). Para indução da microlesão muscular, ambos os grupos realizaram 100 contrações musculares isocinéticas excêntricas máximas (10 séries de 10 repetições) dos músculos flexores e extensores do joelho na velocidade angular de 60°.s-1. No dia seguinte, os voluntários receberam tratamento com corrente interferencial ou tratamento placebo em ambos os grupos musculares. O tratamento foi realizado durante 30 minutos utilizando-se 4 kHz de frequência portadora (modulação de 80-150 Hz) e 125 μs de duração do pulso. O limiar de dor mecânica, o pico de torque e a concentração da proteína creatina cinase foram avaliados em quatro momentos diferentes: antes da indução da microlesão, imediatamente após o exercício, 24 horas após a indução e após o tratamento com corrente interferencial ou tratamento placebo. Tanto para os músculos flexores quanto extensores do joelho, ambos os grupos experimentais apresentaram uma redução significativa no pico de torque e no limiar de dor mecânica após a realização dos exercícios excêntricos, assim como uma elevação na concentração de proteínas marcadoras de lesão, mostrando que o protocolo de exercícios foi efetivo na indução da microlesão. Após o tratamento, apenas o grupo experimental, que recebeu a corrente interferencial, apresentou um aumento significativo no limiar de dor mecânica para ambos os grupos musculares avaliados, mostrando que a corrente foi efetiva na diminuição da sensibilidade dolorosa. Os valores de torque e a concentração das proteínas não sofreram alteração após o tratamento. Os resultados indicam que a corrente interferencial foi efetiva no tratamento da dor relacionada com microlesão muscular induzida por exercício excêntrico a partir de um aumento do limiar de dor mecânica nos músculos flexores e extensores do joelho. / The goal of the work presented here was to evaluate the effects of the interferential current in the pain sensibility and muscular torque of the flexor and extensor knee muscles after the performance of an eccentric exercise protocol. The sample was comprised of 41 healthy male individuals aged 18 to 33 years old, randomly divided into two experimental groups: interferential current group (n=21) and placebo group (n=20). To induce muscle soreness, both groups performed a hundred maximal isokinetic eccentric muscular contractions (10 series of 10 repetitions) in the flexor and extensor knee muscles, with an angular velocity of 60°.s- 1. On the following day volunteers were treated with interferential current or with the placebo treatment in both muscular groups. Treatment was carried out for 30 minutes using a 4 kHz carrier frequency (80-150 Hz) and a pulse duration of 125 μs. Mechanical pain threshold, peak torque and creatine kinase protein concentration were evaluated at four different times: before muscle soreness induction, immediately after exercise, 24 hours after induction and after the interferential current treatment or the placebo treatment. For both flexor and extensor knee muscles, both experimental groups presented a significant reduction in peak torque and mechanical pain threshold after performing the eccentric exercises, as well as a rise in injurysignaling protein concentration, demonstrating the efficiency of the exercise protocol in inducing muscle soreness. After treatment, only the experimental group that received the interferential current presented significant increases in mechanical pain threshold for both evaluated muscular groups, thus showing that the current was effective in diminishing pain sensitivity. Torque values and protein concentration underwent no changes after the treatment. The results pointed out that the interferential current was effective in the treatment of pain related to muscle soreness induced by eccentric exercise through an increase in mechanical pain threshold in the flexor and extensor knee muscles.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da corrente interferencial na sensibilidade dolorosa e no torque muscular dos músculos flexores e extensores do joelho após a realização de um protocolo de exercícios excêntricos. A amostra foi constituída de 41 indivíduos saudáveis do sexo masculino com idade entre 18 e 33 anos, que foram divididos aleatoriamente em dois grupos experimentais: grupo corrente interferencial (n=21) e grupo placebo (n=20). Para indução da microlesão muscular, ambos os grupos realizaram 100 contrações musculares isocinéticas excêntricas máximas (10 séries de 10 repetições) dos músculos flexores e extensores do joelho na velocidade angular de 60°.s-1. No dia seguinte, os voluntários receberam tratamento com corrente interferencial ou tratamento placebo em ambos os grupos musculares. O tratamento foi realizado durante 30 minutos utilizando-se 4 kHz de frequência portadora (modulação de 80-150 Hz) e 125 μs de duração do pulso. O limiar de dor mecânica, o pico de torque e a concentração da proteína creatina cinase foram avaliados em quatro momentos diferentes: antes da indução da microlesão, imediatamente após o exercício, 24 horas após a indução e após o tratamento com corrente interferencial ou tratamento placebo. Tanto para os músculos flexores quanto extensores do joelho, ambos os grupos experimentais apresentaram uma redução significativa no pico de torque e no limiar de dor mecânica após a realização dos exercícios excêntricos, assim como uma elevação na concentração de proteínas marcadoras de lesão, mostrando que o protocolo de exercícios foi efetivo na indução da microlesão. Após o tratamento, apenas o grupo experimental, que recebeu a corrente interferencial, apresentou um aumento significativo no limiar de dor mecânica para ambos os grupos musculares avaliados, mostrando que a corrente foi efetiva na diminuição da sensibilidade dolorosa. Os valores de torque e a concentração das proteínas não sofreram alteração após o tratamento. Os resultados indicam que a corrente interferencial foi efetiva no tratamento da dor relacionada com microlesão muscular induzida por exercício excêntrico a partir de um aumento do limiar de dor mecânica nos músculos flexores e extensores do joelho. / The goal of the work presented here was to evaluate the effects of the interferential current in the pain sensibility and muscular torque of the flexor and extensor knee muscles after the performance of an eccentric exercise protocol. The sample was comprised of 41 healthy male individuals aged 18 to 33 years old, randomly divided into two experimental groups: interferential current group (n=21) and placebo group (n=20). To induce muscle soreness, both groups performed a hundred maximal isokinetic eccentric muscular contractions (10 series of 10 repetitions) in the flexor and extensor knee muscles, with an angular velocity of 60°.s- 1. On the following day volunteers were treated with interferential current or with the placebo treatment in both muscular groups. Treatment was carried out for 30 minutes using a 4 kHz carrier frequency (80-150 Hz) and a pulse duration of 125 μs. Mechanical pain threshold, peak torque and creatine kinase protein concentration were evaluated at four different times: before muscle soreness induction, immediately after exercise, 24 hours after induction and after the interferential current treatment or the placebo treatment. For both flexor and extensor knee muscles, both experimental groups presented a significant reduction in peak torque and mechanical pain threshold after performing the eccentric exercises, as well as a rise in injurysignaling protein concentration, demonstrating the efficiency of the exercise protocol in inducing muscle soreness. After treatment, only the experimental group that received the interferential current presented significant increases in mechanical pain threshold for both evaluated muscular groups, thus showing that the current was effective in diminishing pain sensitivity. Torque values and protein concentration underwent no changes after the treatment. The results pointed out that the interferential current was effective in the treatment of pain related to muscle soreness induced by eccentric exercise through an increase in mechanical pain threshold in the flexor and extensor knee muscles.

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da corrente interferencial na sensibilidade dolorosa e no torque muscular dos músculos flexores e extensores do joelho após a realização de um protocolo de exercícios excêntricos. A amostra foi constituída de 41 indivíduos saudáveis do sexo masculino com idade entre 18 e 33 anos, que foram divididos aleatoriamente em dois grupos experimentais: grupo corrente interferencial (n=21) e grupo placebo (n=20). Para indução da microlesão muscular, ambos os grupos realizaram 100 contrações musculares isocinéticas excêntricas máximas (10 séries de 10 repetições) dos músculos flexores e extensores do joelho na velocidade angular de 60°.s-1. No dia seguinte, os voluntários receberam tratamento com corrente interferencial ou tratamento placebo em ambos os grupos musculares. O tratamento foi realizado durante 30 minutos utilizando-se 4 kHz de frequência portadora (modulação de 80-150 Hz) e 125 μs de duração do pulso. O limiar de dor mecânica, o pico de torque e a concentração da proteína creatina cinase foram avaliados em quatro momentos diferentes: antes da indução da microlesão, imediatamente após o exercício, 24 horas após a indução e após o tratamento com corrente interferencial ou tratamento placebo. Tanto para os músculos flexores quanto extensores do joelho, ambos os grupos experimentais apresentaram uma redução significativa no pico de torque e no limiar de dor mecânica após a realização dos exercícios excêntricos, assim como uma elevação na concentração de proteínas marcadoras de lesão, mostrando que o protocolo de exercícios foi efetivo na indução da microlesão. Após o tratamento, apenas o grupo experimental, que recebeu a corrente interferencial, apresentou um aumento significativo no limiar de dor mecânica para ambos os grupos musculares avaliados, mostrando que a corrente foi efetiva na diminuição da sensibilidade dolorosa. Os valores de torque e a concentração das proteínas não sofreram alteração após o tratamento. Os resultados indicam que a corrente interferencial foi efetiva no tratamento da dor relacionada com microlesão muscular induzida por exercício excêntrico a partir de um aumento do limiar de dor mecânica nos músculos flexores e extensores do joelho. / The goal of the work presented here was to evaluate the effects of the interferential current in the pain sensibility and muscular torque of the flexor and extensor knee muscles after the performance of an eccentric exercise protocol. The sample was comprised of 41 healthy male individuals aged 18 to 33 years old, randomly divided into two experimental groups: interferential current group (n=21) and placebo group (n=20). To induce muscle soreness, both groups performed a hundred maximal isokinetic eccentric muscular contractions (10 series of 10 repetitions) in the flexor and extensor knee muscles, with an angular velocity of 60°.s- 1. On the following day volunteers were treated with interferential current or with the placebo treatment in both muscular groups. Treatment was carried out for 30 minutes using a 4 kHz carrier frequency (80-150 Hz) and a pulse duration of 125 μs. Mechanical pain threshold, peak torque and creatine kinase protein concentration were evaluated at four different times: before muscle soreness induction, immediately after exercise, 24 hours after induction and after the interferential current treatment or the placebo treatment. For both flexor and extensor knee muscles, both experimental groups presented a significant reduction in peak torque and mechanical pain threshold after performing the eccentric exercises, as well as a rise in injurysignaling protein concentration, demonstrating the efficiency of the exercise protocol in inducing muscle soreness. After treatment, only the experimental group that received the interferential current presented significant increases in mechanical pain threshold for both evaluated muscular groups, thus showing that the current was effective in diminishing pain sensitivity. Torque values and protein concentration underwent no changes after the treatment. The results pointed out that the interferential current was effective in the treatment of pain related to muscle soreness induced by eccentric exercise through an increase in mechanical pain threshold in the flexor and extensor knee muscles.

BACKGROUND: Low-level phototherapy is advocated to increase energetic metabolism, muscle performance, protect skeletal muscle from injuries due to energetic imbalance and accelerate muscle recovery following exercise. Nevertheless, results from individual researches do not agree on its efficacy. OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy of low-level phototherapy (i.e. Light-Emitting Diode therapy [LEDtherapy] or Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation therapy [LASERtherapy]) on exercise capacity and skeletal muscle protection and recovery in people undergoing an exercise protocol. METHODS: We performed two systematic reviews with meta-analyses based on Cochrane Collaboration and PRISMA statement. Trials were collected from Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, SciELO, PEDro and LILACS up to May 2014 or February 2015. The references lists from selected manuscripts were screened for further references of interest. We included randomized controlled trials and crossover studies in which study participants were allocated to receive either low-level phototherapy or placebo treatment. Outcomes of interest were pain, creatine kinase activity, lactate concentration, lactate dehydrogenase activity, edema, range of movement, strength, number of repetitions, time to exhaustion, peak torque and muscle power. RESULTS: In the first review we identified 15 studies involving 317 participants and in the second review we identified 16 studies involving 297 participants. Compared to the placebo group, pre-exercise LASERtherapy improved the number of repetitions (mean difference [MD] = 3.52 repetitions; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.24 repetitions, 5.80 repetitions; P = 0.002), delayed the time to exhaustion (MD = 3.23 s; 95% CI = 0.24 s, 6.22 s; P = 0.03), reduced the lactate levels (MD = -0.41 mmol/L; 95% CI = -1.34 mmol/L, -0.17 mmol/L; P = 0.0007) and reduced the creatine kinase levels (standardized mean difference = -0.66; 95% CI = -1.30, -0.02; P = 0.04). Post-exercise LEDtherapy reduced pain measured by visual analogue scale (MD = -2.04 mm; 95% CI = -4.03 mm, -0.06 mm; P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: There is moderate evidence that low-level phototherapy improves exercise capacity. It is not clear if low-level phototherapy has beneficial effects on skeletal muscle injury and pain. / CONTEXTO: A fototerapia de baixa intensidade é indicada para melhorar o metabolismo energético e o desempenho muscular, proteger a musculatura de lesões provenientes da depleção energética e favorecer a recuperação muscular após o exercício. No entanto, resultados de investigações clínicas não se mostram concordantes em relação à sua eficácia. OBJETIVOS: Determinar os efeitos da fototerapia de baixa intensidade com Diodos Emissores de Luz (LEDterapia) ou Amplificação da Luz por Emissão Estimulada de Radiação (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, LASERterapia) na capacidade de exercício, proteção e recuperação musculares em pessoas submetidas ao exercício. MÉTODO: Foram realizadas duas revisões sistemáticas com metanálise baseadas nas recomendações da Colaboração Cochrane e PRISMA statement. Os estudos foram provenientes da Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, SciELO, PEDro e LILACS até maio de 2014 ou fevereiro de 2015, além da busca manual nas referências dos artigos selecionados. Foram incluídos ensaios clínicos controlados aleatórios e estudos cruzados nos quais os participantes foram alocados para receber fototerapia de baixa intensidade ou tratamento placebo. Os desfechos avaliados foram dor, atividade de creatina quinase, concentração de lactato, atividade de lactato desidrogenase, edema, amplitude de movimento, força, número de repetições, tempo até a exaustão, pico de torque e potência muscular. RESULTADOS: A primeira revisão sistemática foi composta por 15 estudos, totalizando 317 participantes, e a segunda revisão sistemática foi composta por 16 estudos com um total de 297 participantes. Comparado ao placebo, a LASERterapia antes do exercício promoveu um aumento do número de repetições (diferença média [mean difference, MD]= 3,52 repetições; intervalo de confiança (IC) 95% = 1,24 repetições, 5,80 repetições; P = 0,002), aumento do tempo até a exaustão (MD = 3,23 s; IC 95% = 0,24 s, 6,22 s; P = 0,03), redução dos níveis séricos de lactato (MD = -0,41 mmol/L; IC 95% = -1,34 mmol/L, -0,17 mmol/L; P = 0,0007) e redução dos níveis séricos de creatina quinase (diferença média padronizada = -0,66; IC 95% = -1,30, -0,02; P = 0,04). A LEDterapia aplicada após o exercício resultou menos dor avaliada pela escala visual analógica (MD = -2,04 mm; 95% CI = -4,03 mm, -0,06 mm; P = 0,04). CONCLUSÃO: Há moderada evidência de que a fototerapia de baixa intensidade aumenta a capacidade de exercício. Não é possível afirmar que a fototerapia apresenta efeitos positivos na lesão muscular e na dor secundários ao exercício.

The primary purposes of this dissertation were to explore relationship between cell free DNA (cf-DNA), creatine kinase (CK), C-reactive protein (CRP), vertical jump testing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in response to a high-volume resistance training protocol, and to assess the sensitivity of cf-DNA to different resistance training volume loads. The secondary purpose was to examine the relationship between cf-DNA and relative strength. Study 1 was an exploratory attempt to discover relationships between cf-DNA, CK, CRP, delayed onset muscle soreness, and performance variables. Seventeen resistance trained males were recruited, 9 were randomly assigned to receive BCAAs while 8 received a placebo. Participants performed a high-volume resistance training session consisting of the back squat and bench press. Blood was drawn to measure serum cf-DNA, CK, and CRP levels prior to the training session, with cf-DNA collected immediately post, and CK and CRP at 24hr and 48hrs post. Self-reported DOMS on a scale of 1 to 10 was collected prior to training on day 2, day 3, and day 4. SJH, CMJH, and BOSCO were collected on day 1, day 3, and day 4. Fifty-seven correlations were run to explore the relationships between variables. Only the correlation between %Δ DOMS 48hr and %Δ CRP 48hr in the non-supplement group was significant (p = 0.02). The second study, designed to assess the sensitivity of cf-DNA to different resistance training volume loads, consisted of a high-volume resistance training protocol. Blood was drawn immediately before the resistance training session (T1), immediately after the third lifting set (T2), and immediately after the sixth lifting set (T3). cf-DNA increased significantly from T1 to T2 (p < 0.01) and T1 to T3 (p < 0.01). The linear regression model used to examine the capabilities of relative strength to predict %Δ cf-DNA from T1 to T3 was significant (p = 0.04). The results of this study demonstrate the short response time of cf-DNA in relation to variations in resistance training volume-load, suggesting it may be a valuable marker in monitoring the immune response to volume-load. Results also demonstrated the positive relationship between relative strength and %Δ cf-DNA.

Träningsvärk efter fysisk aktivitet är ett välkänt fenomen. Vad som ligger bakomträningsvärkens effekter såsom smärta och nedsatt rörlighet är mindre välkänt. Träningsvärk, eller ”delayed onset muscle soreness” (DOMS), har i forskningenantagits bero på muskelskada och inflammation i skelettmusklerna efter att ovana ellerexcentriska övningar utförts. Försöken att lindra träningsvärkens effekter har varitmånga, t ex genom antiinflammatoriska läkemedel (NSAID). Syftet med dennasystematiska litteraturstudie var att svara på frågeställningen hur ibuprofen påverkarträningsvärk där hypotesen att ibuprofen skulle ha en dämpande effekt på träningsvärkantogs. Nio artiklar granskades för att besvara hypotesen utan att några slutsatser omibuprofens inverkan på träningsvärk kunde dras då resultaten pekade åt olika håll ochinga tendenser kunde observeras. Den slutsats som kunde dras utifrån litteraturstudienvar att ytterligare forskning på området är behövlig. Om studier inte kan visa att NSAIDdämpar träningsvärk så kan det ifrågasättas om inflammation är orsaken tillträningsvärken. Ytterligare studier på området är viktigt då NSAID är vanligtförekommande som smärtlindrande läkemedel samtidigt som det har biverkningar. Det finns också forskning som tyder på att NSAID kan ha negativ inverkan på de positivaeffekter som är av intresse i träningssammanhang.

Massage is often recommended to athletes to facilitate recovery and attenuate DOMS. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of massage on perceived muscle soreness and pain, inflammatory and immune markers, ROM, and mood state. Fourteen, recreationally active, women participated in a randomized crossover design study, consisting of 1) 60 min. full body massage following unaccustomed exercise and 2) 60 min. of rest. following unaccustomed exercise. Perceived muscle soreness and pain, active range of motion (ROM), mood state, along with blood concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), creatine kinase (CK), and neutrophil count (NC), was assessed at baseline, 4hrs, and 24hrs following both treatment and control conditions. The aims of this study were 1) to decrease the effects of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), and increase time to recover, and 2) to investigate the effect of massage vs. passive rest on inflammatory and immune markers within the blood. We hypothesized 1) an increase in ROM, a decrease in perceived physical soreness and perceived physical pain, as a result of the massage, compared to control, and 2) a decrease in blood plasma inflammatory markers, CRP, NC, CK, and IL-6, as a result of the massage, compared to control. We found massage following exercise to 1) significantly decreased perceived pain (p=0.001), 2) significantly increased immune iv markers (WBC (p=0.012) and NC (p=0.012)), and 3) significantly decreased ROM (p=0.02), compared to control. Massage had no impact on inflammatory markers (IL-6, CRP, and CK), or mood.