The effectiveness of pulsed ultrasound therapy on delayed onset muscle soreness

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PULSED ULTRASOUND THERAPY ONDELAYED ONSET MUSCLE SORENESSAydan AYTARA randomised double-blind placebo controlled study to evaluate theeffectiveness of pulsed ultrasound therapy on delayed onset muscle sorenesswas conducted on 90 female volunteer students of Başkent University. Subjectswere evaluated 24 hours before and 48 hours after inducing delayed onsetmuscle soreness and at the end of the five days of treatment. The evaluationsconsisted of pain with rest, soreness, range of motion, joint position sense,muscle strength, pain threshold, circumference measurement, serum creatinekinase and neutrophil counts. In addition subjects were evaluated for pain withrest, soreness, pain threshold, range of motion and circumferencemeasurement for five consecutive days after 30 minutes from the treatments.Delayed onset muscle soreness was induced using a Cybex isokineticdynamometer on non dominant M. Biceps Brachii. Subjects were randomisedinto three groups according to the treatment they received; therapeutic pulsedultrasound, placebo pulsed ultrasound and control. The study groups showedsimilarities in relation to their descriptive characteristics, pain with rest,soreness, pain threshold, affective and sensorial pain quality, range of motion,circumference measurement, sense of joint position, muscle strength andneutrophil counts. Creatine kinase levels were found to be higher in the firstgroup as compared to second group (p<0.05). The comparison of parametersbetween pre and post delayed onset muscle soreness showed the induction ofdelayed onset muscle soreness in all three groups. After treatment andinduction of delayed onset muscle soreness effect size were calculated andresults of the study showed that therapeutic pulsed ultrasound therapy had noeffect on pain with rest, soreness, range of motion, muscle strength, tendernessand oedema in individuals with delayed onset muscle soreness. The results ofthe study were consistent with results published in previous studies.Key Words: Eccentric exercise; double-blind placebo controlled; isokineticdynamometer; soreness; physiotherapy.