Effects of Combined Heat and Cold Therapy and Exercise on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness in Healthy Persons

Abstract

Purpose: This study was to compare the effects between heat and cold therapy and exercise on DOMS symptoms.
Methods: 50-healthy male participants were divided into two groups; Heat and Cold therapy (HCT) group (25
persons) and Exercise (E) group (25 persons). The Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness symptoms measurement
consists of pain levels, swelling, muscle strength, Range of motion of the knee and ankle joints. All of the variables
were measured before the experiment, after inducing Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, after rehabilitation, after
the experiment at 8, 24, 48, and 72 hours.
Results: This study found that pain was significantly decreased (p<0.05) in both groups, swelling decreased
significantly after rehabilitation-only in the HCT group (p <0.05). Muscle strength, knee, and ankle Range of motion
were found not changed in both groups. When comparing the two groups, Range of motion in both sides of the
knee in the HCT group found significantly higher than the E group when compared after 8 hours of rehabilitation
(p <0.05). As for other variables, there found no difference between-group comparison.
Conclusion: Both heat and cold therapy and moderate exercise could reduce pain in a healthy male. However,
only heat and cold therapy could reduce swelling after causing muscle aches. Although heat and cold therapy
could not improve Range of motion after Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness stimulation, it could treat Range of
motion more than moderate exercise.