ReviewInternational journal of molecular sciences2021
Is "Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness" a False Friend? The Potential Implication of the Fascial Connective Tissue in Post-Exercise Discomfort.
Review in International journal of molecular sciences, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
29 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Rethinking neurophysiology of delayed onset muscle soreness: updated concepts and mechanisms for mitigation across endurance, resistance, and plyometric exercise.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2026Pooled it
- Rectus Femoris Neuromechanical Responses to Exercise-Induced 3% Body Mass Loss by Baseline Hydration Status: A Randomized Group Comparison.Nutrients · 2026Trial
- The Effects of Palmar Cooling on Repeated Sprinting Ability: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Trial
- Comparing the Effects of Collagen Hydrolysate and Dairy Protein on Recovery from Eccentric Exercise: A Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.Nutrients · 2024Trial
- Branched-Chain Amino Acids Supplementation Does Not Accelerate Recovery after a Change of Direction Sprinting Exercise Protocol.Nutrients · 2022Trial
- Acute effects of core fatigue on thoracolumbar fascia mechanical and viscoelastic properties in healthy young adults: a cross-sectional study.European journal of applied physiology · 2026Article
- Deciphering the action mechanism of the sacred plant "Ashvattha" (Ficus religiosa L.) in the treatment of delayed-onset muscle soreness.Journal of Ayurveda and integrative medicine · 2026Article
- Impact of different cryotherapy interventions on post-exercise acute delayed-onset muscle soreness, athletic performance, and inflammatory biomarkers: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2026Review
- Effect of Nitrate Supplementation on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness Indices: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Cross-Over Clinical Trial.Medical journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran · 2026Article
- Elasticity mapping of gastrocnemius fascia and myotendinous junction of the medial gastrocnemius during passive ankle and knee dorsiflexion.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2026Article
- Effects of intermittent pneumatic compression device on the improvement of tissue oxygen saturation and fluid clearance at the compression site.Frontiers in physiology · 2026Article
- Effectiveness of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Musculoskeletal Pain Syndromes: A Systematic Review.Muscles (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Advances in Non-Pharmacological Strategies for DOMS: A Scoping and Critical Review of Recent Evidence.Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology · 2025Review
- Noninvasive Compartmental Pressure Assessment With iCare in Healthy Individuals of Different Ages.Orthopaedic surgery · 2025Article
- Effect of tissue flossing on eccentric exercise-induced muscle damage: A randomized controlled trial.Biology of sport · 2025Article
- Tracking free water in human body by magnetic resonance imaging: new insights on the network pathways.Royal Society open science · 2025Article
- Supine Bridge Exercise for Low Back Pain: A Fascial Approach for Movement Impairment Syndromes (Part II).Cureus · 2025Review
- Ten days of supplementation with a standardizedFrontiers in sports and active living · 2025Article
- Eccentric exercise-induced delayed onset trunk muscle soreness alters high-density surface EMG-torque relationships and lumbar kinematics.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- Pain quality patterns in delayed onset muscle soreness of the lower back suggest sensitization of fascia rather than muscle afferents: a secondary analysis study.Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Strenuous and unaccustomed exercise frequently lead to what has been coined "delayed onset muscle soreness" (DOMS). As implied by this term, it has been proposed that the associated pain and stiffness stem from micro-lesions, inflammation, or metabolite accumulation within the skeletal muscle. However, recent research points towards a strong involvement of the connective tissue. First, according to anatomical studies, the deep fascia displays an intimate structural relationship with the underlying skeletal muscle and may therefore be damaged during excessive loading. Second, histological and experimental studies suggest a rich supply of algogenic nociceptors whose stimulation evokes stronger pain responses than muscle irritation. Taken together, the findings support the hypothesis that DOMS originates in the muscle-associated connective tissue rather than in the muscle itself. Sports and fitness professionals designing exercise programs should hence consider fascia-oriented methods and techniques (e.g., foam rolling, collagen supplementation) when aiming to treat or prevent DOMS.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.