Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS): A Comprehensive Physiological and Practical Analysis
Introduction
This report aims to provide a definitive, expert-level analysis of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). Moving beyond common misconceptions, it dissects the etiology of DOMS from the biomechanics of muscle contraction to the cellular-level inflammatory response, specifically debunking deep-rooted myths like the lactic acid theory and analyzing the complex relationship between soreness and muscle growth. Finally, it presents an evidence-based framework for management and prevention. This report is structured for the 'inquisitive fitness scholar'—an individual with a foundational understanding of exercise who seeks a detailed, scientific explanation to optimize their training and recovery protocols. DOMS is a predictable adaptive response to new or intense eccentric exercise, initiated by mechanical microtrauma and manifesting as pain through a delayed, complex inflammatory cascade. It is a signal of muscular stress but an unreliable proxy for muscle growth, requiring a nuanced management approach for optimal long-term athletic development.
1. The Fundamental Mechanism of Muscle Soreness: Microtrauma and Eccentric Contractions
1.1 Definition of DOMS: Characteristics and Timeline
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) is distinct from the acute pain felt during exercise.1 Its primary characteristics are a dull, aching pain, stiffness, and tenderness to the touch in the affected muscle area. These symptoms are characteristically delayed, not appearing immediately after the workout. Typically, the soreness begins 12 to 24 hours post-exercise 3, with pain intensity peaking between 24 and 72 hours.3 Thereafter, the symptoms gradually subside and resolve naturally within 3 to 7 days without specific treatment.5 In addition to pain, accompanying symptoms can include a reduced range of motion, a temporary decrease in muscle strength, and localized swelling.1
1.2 The Primary Causative Factor: The Unique Biomechanics of Eccentric Contractions
The most significant difference between exercises that cause DOMS and those that do not lies in the type of muscle contraction. DOMS is overwhelmingly caused by eccentric contractions.13 An eccentric contraction occurs when a muscle generates force while simultaneously lengthening as it resists an external load. Examples include slowly lowering a dumbbell, running downhill, or the descending phase of a squat.16 In contrast, concentric contractions, where the muscle shortens to produce force (e.g., lifting a dumbbell), and isometric contractions, where the muscle generates force without changing length (e.g., a plank), cause little to no DOMS.4
The paradox of eccentric contractions explains the core of DOMS development. Eccentric contractions generate greater force and impose more mechanical stress on muscle fibers than concentric contractions, yet they recruit fewer motor units and consume significantly less metabolic energy, such as oxygen and ATP.15 In other words, eccentric contractions are metabolically 'cheap' but mechanically 'expensive.' The nervous system, sensing the low energy demand, recruits fewer muscle fibers. Consequently, a high mechanical load is concentrated on a small number of activated fibers. This dramatically increases the likelihood that individual fibers will be subjected to forces exceeding their structural limits, resulting in microtrauma.4 This biomechanical-metabolic mismatch is why a relatively 'easy' feeling activity like walking downhill can cause more severe muscle soreness than walking uphill.
1.3 Inside the Muscle Fiber: A Microscopic View of Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage (EIMD)
The pain of DOMS is not a direct result of the exercise itself, but rather the body's response to microscopic damage to the muscle fibers, known as 'microtrauma'.5 This damage is primarily observed as disruption of the Z-lines, which are the boundaries of the sarcomere (the smallest contractile unit of a muscle), and structural breakdown of the contractile filaments themselves, such as actin and myosin.9
This initial mechanical damage is termed Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage (EIMD). DOMS refers to the symptoms—such as pain and stiffness—that arise as the body's response to EIMD.4 Biochemical evidence of this damage includes the leakage of intracellular proteins, such as creatine kinase (CK) and myoglobin, from the damaged muscle cells into the bloodstream. The concentration of CK in the blood peaks between 48 and 72 hours post-exercise, mirroring the timeline of DOMS and objectively confirming that muscle damage has occurred.6
| Contraction Type | Muscle Action | Force Generation Capacity | Metabolic Cost (Energy/Oxygen) | Tendency to Cause DOMS | |
|---|
| Eccentric | Muscle lengthens while resisting a load | High | Low | Very High | |
| Concentric | Muscle shortens to overcome a load | Medium | High | Very Low | |
| Isometric | Muscle generates force with no change in length | Medium-High | Medium | Almost None | |
| Table 1: Comparison of Muscle Contraction Types (Data Sources: 14) | | | | | |
2. The Inflammatory Cascade: Why the Pain is Delayed
The reason the pain of DOMS appears a day or two after exercise, rather than immediately, is that the process from muscle damage to pain perception is a complex, time-dependent biological cascade involving multiple steps. The pain is not the damage itself, but a byproduct of the body's 'clean-up and repair process' in response to that damage.
2.1 Stage 1: Initial Mechanical Damage and Sarcolemma Disruption (Time: 0-2 hours)
The entire process begins during exercise with the mechanical tearing of the muscle cell membrane (sarcolemma) and internal contractile structures (like Z-lines) due to high eccentric loads.9 This is a purely mechanical event, and at this stage, no significant pain is felt. However, the muscle's ability to generate force may be immediately reduced.28
2.2 Stage 2: Disruption of Calcium Homeostasis and Protease Activation (Time: 2-12 hours)
The damaged sarcolemma can no longer properly regulate ion flow. Calcium ions (Ca2+), normally stored in the sarcoplasmic reticulum, flood into the cytoplasm.6 Because the cell is in an ATP-depleted state after exercise, its ability to pump this excess calcium back out is impaired.9 The abnormally high intracellular calcium concentration activates calcium-dependent proteases like calpain and phospholipases. These enzymes begin to break down cellular proteins and membranes, further exacerbating the initial mechanical damage.4 This can be seen as a 'secondary damage' phase where the injury spreads biochemically.
2.3 Stage 3: The Immune Response - Infiltration of Neutrophils and Macrophages (Time: 12-24 hours)
The cellular debris from Stage 2 acts as a signal to trigger an acute inflammatory response.3 Immune cells, particularly neutrophils, are attracted to the site of injury within hours to begin clearing cellular debris.28 Over the next 12 to 24 hours, macrophages arrive to continue the cleanup process and release signaling molecules called cytokines. These cytokines amplify the inflammatory response and orchestrate the repair process.22
2.4 Stage 4: Chemical Sensitization and Pain Perception (Time: 24-72 hours)
This is the period when DOMS pain reaches its peak. Chemical substances released by the damaged cells and immune cells—bradykinin, histamine, potassium, and especially Prostaglandin E2—accumulate and sensitize the local pain receptors (nociceptors).8 These substances do not necessarily cause pain directly but lower the activation threshold of the nociceptors. As a result, stimuli that would not normally cause pain, such as stretching or contracting the muscle, now trigger a pain sensation. This state is known as hyperalgesia.9 Furthermore, the physical swelling (edema) caused by fluid accumulation at the injury site puts pressure on these sensitized nerve endings, further intensifying the feelings of pain and stiffness.3 Finally, these pain signals are transmitted via A-delta and C nerve fibers through the spinal cord to the brain, where they are perceived as the dull, aching pain of DOMS.39
In conclusion, the delayed nature of the pain is due to this multi-stage, time-dependent process. The initial mechanical damage is painless, but the subsequent biochemical damage, immune cell migration, and accumulation of pain-mediating substances and nerve sensitization take dozens of hours to unfold, causing the delayed perception of soreness.
3. The Lactic Acid Myth: Misconceptions and Truths
The belief that post-exercise muscle soreness is caused by lactic acid accumulation is one of the most widespread and unequivocally false pieces of common knowledge. This misconception stems from confusing correlation with causation and can be corrected by understanding the actual physiological role of lactate.
3.1 Historical Background of a Deep-Rooted Misconception
The lactic acid theory originated in the early 20th century from the research of Otto Meyerhof and Archibald Hill.42 They observed that lactic acid accumulated in frog muscles as they fatigued in an oxygen-deprived environment. This correlation between lactic acid buildup and muscle dysfunction led to the erroneous causal conclusion that lactic acid was a 'fatigue substance' or 'waste product' that caused fatigue and pain. This concept was accepted as dogma by both the scientific community and the public for decades.42
3.2 Scientific Rebuttal: Why Lactic Acid is Not the Culprit
Modern physiological research provides clear evidence that lactic acid is not the cause of DOMS.
- Rapid Clearance Rate: Lactic acid produced during exercise returns to resting levels in the blood within 30 to 60 minutes after the session ends.45 Therefore, it cannot be the cause of DOMS, which peaks dozens of hours later.
- The Contraction Type Paradox: The most powerful refutation of the lactic acid theory comes from the discrepancy between the amount of lactic acid produced by different contraction types and the degree of DOMS they cause. Concentric exercises, like high-intensity cycling, produce large amounts of lactic acid but cause very little DOMS. Conversely, eccentric exercises, like downhill running, produce very little lactic acid but cause severe DOMS.7
- The Chemical Reality: In the body's normal pH environment, 'lactic acid' immediately dissociates into a hydrogen ion (H+) and 'lactate.' The acute burning sensation felt during exercise is due to the increased acidity from the accumulation of hydrogen ions, not lactate.45 In fact, lactate can even act as a buffer against this acidification by consuming a hydrogen ion during its formation.45
3.3 The True Role of Lactate: From Waste Product to Valuable Fuel
Lactic acid, or more accurately, lactate, is not a waste product but a crucial metabolic intermediate and energy source for the body.42
- The Cori Cycle: Lactate produced in the muscles is transported via the blood to the liver. The liver converts it back into glucose (gluconeogenesis), which is then released into the bloodstream and can be used again as an energy source by the muscles.50
- Direct Energy Source: The heart muscle, the brain, and other well-oxygenated muscle cells can efficiently use lactate as a direct fuel source.52
- Signaling Molecule: Recent research has revealed that lactate also functions as a signaling molecule that can promote angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels), contribute to wound healing, and even stimulate pathways related to muscle synthesis.44
In conclusion, lactic acid (lactate) is not the cause of DOMS. The acute burning sensation during exercise and the delayed soreness afterward are two entirely separate physiological phenomena with different mechanisms and timelines. Correcting the long-standing misconception about lactic acid is a fundamental step toward accurate exercise science knowledge.
4. The Pain-Growth Paradox: Is Soreness a Prerequisite for Progress?
Echoing the adage "No pain, no gain," many people consider the intensity of muscle soreness a measure of muscle growth. While it is true that exercise-induced muscle damage is a signal that triggers hypertrophy (muscle growth), a cautious approach is needed when considering whether the subjective 'feeling' of pain is a reliable indicator of that growth.
4.1 Signaling for Muscle Damage and Hypertrophy
Muscle growth is an adaptive process of repairing the damage caused by training and rebuilding the muscle fibers bigger and stronger to prepare for future stimuli.23 Exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) plays a crucial role in increasing the rate of muscle protein synthesis and activating satellite cells (muscle stem cells), which are essential for muscle repair and growth.4 The inflammatory response associated with DOMS is also a critical part of the signaling cascade that initiates this remodeling and adaptation.38
4.2 Evaluating the Evidence: The Weak Correlation Between DOMS and Muscle Growth
Despite this mechanical link, the correlation between the subjective degree of pain and actual muscle growth has been shown to be very weak.58 Studies have found little to no significant relationship between the severity of muscle soreness and the rate of muscle protein synthesis or long-term hypertrophy.61 This means it is possible to experience severe muscle damage with very little pain, and conversely, to feel significant pain with only minor damage.62
Muscle growth can occur, especially in trained individuals, with no pain at all.14 The key driver of hypertrophy is progressive overload—gradually increasing the mechanical tension placed on the muscle—not the pain itself.14 Pain is heavily influenced by factors less directly related to hypertrophy, such as damage to connective tissue or an individual's neural sensitivity.61
4.3 The Dangers of "Chasing the Pain"
Excessive muscle soreness may not be evidence of a superior workout but rather a sign that the muscle's recovery capacity has been exceeded.38 Pushing through training in a state of severe pain carries several risks. Pain can inhibit muscle activation and reduce performance, and compensatory movements to avoid pain can lead to abnormal movement patterns, increasing the risk of injury to other areas.10 Chronically inducing severe DOMS can interfere with the recovery process, hindering rather than promoting long-term muscle growth.23
This relationship becomes clear when we understand muscle damage and muscle growth as separate processes. Exercise causes damage to the muscle, which sends a 'repair' signal that triggers an inflammatory response and pain (DOMS). Based on this signal, the muscle is rebuilt larger, which is 'growth (hypertrophy).' DOMS is like the loud 'siren' of the repair process, while hypertrophy is the quiet 'reconstruction work.' A louder siren does not mean the reconstruction is better; sometimes, quiet construction is more efficient. Therefore, using the degree of pain as the sole measure of a workout's effectiveness is to confuse a side effect of the repair process with the final outcome of adaptation.
5. Factors of Variability: Why DOMS Varies Between Individuals and Muscles
The experience of delayed onset muscle soreness varies greatly from person to person, and even within the same person depending on which muscles were exercised. These differences are determined by a complex interplay of training experience, the structural characteristics of the muscles, and exercise variables. Fundamentally, DOMS is a symptom that reflects a 'mismatch' between the load placed on a muscle and that muscle's current state of adaptation to that load.
5.1 Novice vs. Experienced: Understanding the 'Repeated Bout Effect'
Paradoxically, the most effective way to prevent DOMS is to repeat the very exercise that caused it. The muscle damage from the first bout of exercise induces a powerful protective effect against damage in subsequent bouts, a phenomenon known as the 'repeated bout effect'.64 This is precisely why exercise novices experience far more severe DOMS than experienced individuals.6
The mechanisms of the repeated bout effect are multifaceted:
- Neural Adaptations: The nervous system learns to recruit more muscle fibers more efficiently to distribute the load. This reduces the stress placed on individual fibers.67
- Physiological Adaptations: The muscle fibers themselves become structurally stronger. Z-lines are reinforced, new sarcomeres are added, and the surrounding connective tissue (extracellular matrix) is strengthened, increasing resistance to mechanical stress.55
- Cellular Adaptations: Cellular-level adaptations also occur, such as a blunted inflammatory response to subsequent exercise.
5.2 Muscle-Specific Sensitivity: The Influence of Muscle Architecture, Fiber Type, and Function
Certain muscle groups tend to be more susceptible to DOMS than others.14 For example, the quadriceps, hamstrings, and chest muscles often experience more severe soreness than the shoulders or biceps.
Potential factors contributing to these differences include:
- Muscle Architecture: Muscles that cross two joints (e.g., quadriceps, hamstrings) or have complex pennation angles may be subjected to greater mechanical stress during complex movements.70
- Muscle Fiber Type Composition: Fast-twitch fibers (Type II), which produce explosive force, are known to be more susceptible to damage than slow-twitch fibers (Type I), which are responsible for endurance.13 Muscles with a higher proportion of fast-twitch fibers may experience more severe DOMS.
- Function and Usage Patterns: Muscles that frequently perform decelerating actions, such as landing from a jump or running downhill (e.g., quadriceps), are inherently exposed to more eccentric loading and thus have a higher risk of DOMS.16 Large muscle groups like the legs and back are often used in compound exercises that generate high forces, which can lead to more severe soreness.47
5.3 The Influence of Training Variables: Intensity, Volume, and Novelty
- Novelty: The most critical factor is the 'unfamiliarity' of the exercise. Even a low-intensity movement can cause DOMS if it's a new pattern that the muscles have not yet adapted to.4
- Intensity and Volume: Heavier weights (high intensity) and more sets and repetitions (high volume) of eccentric exercise lead to greater muscle damage and more severe DOMS.6
- Range of Motion: Exercises that place the greatest tension on the muscle when it is fully stretched (lengthened) are more likely to cause soreness.57
All these variables can be unified under a single principle: 'Load > Adaptation.' DOMS is a symptom that occurs when the imposed load exceeds the muscle's current level of adaptation. This 'adaptation gap' is largest in novices, occurs when performing new exercises, and is more pronounced in muscles that are structurally less adapted to a specific load. Therefore, the key to minimizing DOMS is to reduce this gap by introducing new stimuli gradually, allowing adaptation to keep pace with the load.
6. Evidence-Based Strategies for DOMS Mitigation and Recovery
The goal of managing DOMS should not be to eliminate the pain entirely, but to manage the symptoms to allow for a quicker return to effective training. Some recovery strategies may involve a trade-off between short-term comfort and long-term adaptation, so an evidence-based, judicious choice is necessary.
6.1 Active vs. Passive Recovery: The Superiority of Low-Intensity Movement
Complete rest (passive recovery) is known to be less effective for alleviating DOMS than active recovery.75 Active recovery involves performing low-intensity, low-impact exercises such as walking, swimming, light cycling, or gentle yoga.76 Light movement increases blood flow to the sore muscles, which helps to remove inflammatory byproducts, deliver oxygen and nutrients needed for repair, and reduce feelings of stiffness.76 Exercise is considered one of the most effective ways to relieve DOMS pain, although its effect is temporary.81
6.2 Therapeutic Interventions: Evaluating Massage, Foam Rolling, and Compression Garments
- Massage: A 20-30 minute massage immediately after exercise is rated as one of the most effective strategies for reducing the severity of DOMS.75 It is thought to work by increasing blood flow and reducing the migration of neutrophils to the damaged area, thereby mitigating the inflammatory response.4
- Foam Rolling (Self-Myofascial Release): Can help alleviate pain, reduce stiffness, and improve range of motion.75 It is believed to work through a combination of increased blood flow and mechanical pressure on the fascia and muscle tissue.
- Compression Garments: Show positive effects in reducing swelling and the perception of pain, but are not as effective as massage.75
6.3 Thermotherapy: Strategic Application of Cold and Heat
- Cold Therapy (Cryotherapy/Ice): Most suitable for the acute phase, within 48 hours of exercise.5 It constricts blood vessels, which helps to limit swelling and the inflammatory response, and provides temporary pain relief by numbing nerve endings.3 However, it should be noted that excessively suppressing the inflammatory response, such as with cold water immersion immediately after exercise, may hinder long-term muscle adaptation and hypertrophy, according to some studies.4
- Heat Therapy (Thermotherapy): Best used after the acute inflammation has subsided, typically 48-72 hours post-exercise.76 It dilates blood vessels, increasing blood flow, promoting muscle relaxation, and helping to alleviate stiffness.86 Applying heat to an acutely inflamed area can actually worsen the inflammation.88
6.4 Nutritional and Hydration Strategies for Muscle Recovery
- Protein: Consuming an adequate amount of protein (typically 20-30g is recommended) post-exercise is essential for supplying the amino acids needed for muscle repair and synthesis.56
- Carbohydrates: Replenishing depleted glycogen stores is important for providing the energy needed for the recovery process.75
- Hydration and Electrolytes: Dehydration can exacerbate muscle soreness and hinder recovery.56
- Anti-inflammatory Foods/Supplements: Foods rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids, such as berries and fatty fish, can help manage the inflammatory response. Supplements like tart cherry juice, magnesium, and vitamin D have also shown some effectiveness in reducing DOMS.2
Effective DOMS management is about balancing short-term pain relief with long-term physical adaptation. Methods that aggressively suppress inflammation, like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or immediate cold water immersion, may be effective in the short term but can interfere with important signaling processes necessary for muscle growth.4 Therefore, a wise approach is to prioritize methods that 'support' the body's natural recovery processes, such as active recovery and nutrition; use methods that 'manage' symptoms, like massage or heat therapy, as adjuncts; and use methods that 'suppress' inflammation cautiously if the long-term goal is muscle growth.
| Strategy | Proposed Mechanism | Scientific Evidence/Effectiveness | Optimal Timing/Application | |
|---|
| Active Recovery | Increased blood flow, promotes removal of metabolic byproducts | Effective (relieves pain and stiffness) | Post-exercise and on rest days | |
| Massage | Increased blood flow, reduced inflammatory response, muscle tension relief | Very Effective | Within 2 hours post-exercise | |
| Foam Rolling | Increased blood flow, myofascial release | Effective (improves pain and range of motion) | Post-exercise and on rest days | |
| Cold Therapy | Vasoconstriction, suppresses swelling and inflammation, pain relief | Effective (relieves acute symptoms) | 0-48 hours post-exercise | |
| Heat Therapy | Vasodilation, increased blood flow, muscle relaxation | Effective (relieves stiffness) | After 48 hours post-exercise | |
| Protein Intake | Provides raw materials for muscle repair and synthesis | Essential (supports recovery) | Recommended within 30 mins post-exercise | |
| Compression Garments | Reduced swelling, improved blood flow | Some effect | Worn for 24 hours post-exercise | |
| Table 2: Effectiveness of Common DOMS Recovery Strategies (Data Sources: 3) | | | | |
7. Practical Guidance: Training with Soreness and Distinguishing from Injury
7.1 To Train or Not to Train: A Guide to Exercising with DOMS
Generally, it is safe to exercise with mild to moderate DOMS, and it can even help alleviate stiffness.66 However, it is likely that performance capabilities such as strength, power, and balance will be diminished.63 This can increase the risk of injury, especially in movements that require technical precision or balance.
Therefore, if you choose to train with DOMS, it is wise to significantly reduce the intensity. Focusing on the active recovery methods described earlier or training a different, non-sore muscle group is recommended.66 High-intensity training or heavy eccentric loading on the sore muscle should be avoided until the pain has substantially subsided.10 If the pain is severe enough to interfere with daily activities, taking 24 to 48 hours of complete rest is advisable.10
7.2 DOMS vs. Muscle Strain: Key Distinctions for Accurate Self-Diagnosis
When you feel pain after exercise, it is crucial to distinguish whether it is the natural recovery process of DOMS or an injury that requires treatment (e.g., a muscle strain or tear). Analyzing the 'narrative' of the pain can help differentiate the two. DOMS has a predictable story structure: a new exercise, a pain-free latency period, followed by a diffuse pain that gradually begins, peaks, and fades. In contrast, an injury has the story of sudden trauma: a specific moment, a sharp pain, and localized symptoms that persist or worsen.
- Time of Onset: DOMS appears with a delay, 12-24 hours after exercise. Pain from an injury often begins immediately and sharply during a specific movement, sometimes accompanied by a 'pop' sensation.5
- Type of Pain: DOMS is a dull, aching pain that is spread throughout the muscle. Injury pain is more likely to be a sharp, stabbing pain localized to a specific point.5
- Duration and Progression: DOMS peaks at around 48 hours and then gradually improves. Injury pain may not get better with time or could even worsen.10
- Accompanying Symptoms: Severe swelling, bruising, or hearing a 'popping sound' at the time of injury are strong indicators of an injury rather than simple DOMS.5
7.3 When to Consult a Professional: Identifying Red Flags
In the following cases, it is safer to seek the advice of a doctor or physical therapist rather than relying on self-diagnosis.
- The pain is debilitating, making daily activities impossible, or lasts for more than 7 days.10
- A sudden, sharp pain occurred during exercise.
- The affected area shows severe swelling, bruising, or loss of function.89
- The pain is accompanied by systemic symptoms like fever or cola-colored urine. This can be a sign of a rare but serious condition called rhabdomyolysis.2
| Feature | Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) | Acute Muscle Injury (Strain/Tear) | |
|---|
| Time of Onset | Delayed onset, 12-24 hours post-exercise | Immediate onset during exercise | |
| Pain Pattern | Dull, aching pain, general stiffness | Sharp, stabbing pain | |
| Pain Location | Diffuse, throughout the exercised muscle | Localized to a specific point | |
| Pain at Rest | Little to none | Can be present | |
| Accompanying Signs | Mild swelling, stiffness | Severe swelling, bruising, popping sound, loss of function | |
| Progression | Peaks at 24-72 hours, then gradually improves | Does not improve or worsens over time | |
| Table 3: Distinguishing Between DOMS and Acute Muscle Injury (Data Sources: 5) | | | |
Conclusion
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) is not a result of lactic acid accumulation but a normal, adaptive response of the body to micro-damage in muscle fibers, primarily caused by eccentric exercise. The pain is not a signal of the damage itself, but rather a delayed symptom indicating that the essential inflammatory and repair processes have begun.
Therefore, the adage "No pain, no gain" should be reconsidered. While muscle soreness signifies that the muscle has been stressed, it is neither a reliable nor a necessary indicator of an effective workout or muscle growth. The key driver of muscle growth is the principle of progressive overload, not the degree of pain.
A sophisticated physiological understanding of DOMS allows one to move beyond simple myths. It empowers individuals to design more intelligent training programs, implement evidence-based recovery strategies, and accurately assess the signals their bodies are sending, ultimately enabling them to achieve their fitness goals more safely and effectively.
참고 자료
- 지연발생 근육통의 냉치료 효과에 대한 연구, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://koreascience.kr/article/JAKO200136561030759.pdf
- What to Know About Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) - Healthline, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.healthline.com/health/doms
- 염증과 통증은 운동 시 우리 몸에서 자주 경험하는 현상입니다. 이들은 운동 선수들에게 영향을 미칠 수 있으며, 이해하고 적절하게 다루는 것이 중요합니다. 이제 염증과 통증에 대해 좀 더 자세히 알아보겠습니다. - 스포케어, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://spo-care.co.kr/_vb/page/menu2-3.html
- Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness - Physiopedia, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.physio-pedia.com/Delayed_Onset_Muscle_Soreness
- Is It Just Soreness or an Injury? Understanding DOMS vs. Muscle, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://libertybaychiro.com/is-it-just-soreness-or-an-injury-understanding-doms-vs-muscle-strain/
- 지연성 근통증 - 위키백과, 우리 모두의 백과사전, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%A7%80%EC%97%B0%EC%84%B1_%EA%B7%BC%ED%86%B5%EC%A6%9D
- 실험방법의 차이에 따른 지연 발생 근육통의, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, http://www.kptjournal.org/journal/download_pdf.php?spage=37&volume=11&number=3
- DOMS: Causes, recovery, and prevention - Medical News Today, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/delayed-onset-muscle-soreness
- Delayed onset muscle soreness - Wikipedia, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_onset_muscle_soreness
- [건강한 가족] 운동하다 생긴 근육통, 곧장 운동으로 풀려다간 되레 역효과 - 중앙일보, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/24032635
- 지연성근육통에 대한 수지요법의 효과, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.e-ajbc.org/upload/pdf/81.pdf
- 지연성 근육통 유발 후 냉기 적용 방법이 피부온도의 변화, 냉각 통과 근육 - Korea Science, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://koreascience.kr/article/JAKO201310076758859.pdf
- 저강도 원심성 운동과 동적 스트레칭이 지연성 근육통에 미치는 효과 비교, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.kais99.org/jkais/journal/v13n10/42/46t5.html
- 지연성 근육통 - 나무위키, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://namu.wiki/w/%EC%A7%80%EC%97%B0%EC%84%B1%20%EA%B7%BC%EC%9C%A1%ED%86%B5
- Eccentric Muscle Contractions: Risks and Benefits - PMC - PubMed Central, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6510035/
- What Type of Exercise Causes DOMS? Causes, Signs & Prevention - MedicineNet, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.medicinenet.com/what_type_of_exercise_causes_doms/article.htm
- [선수 관리 방법] 지연성 근육통 대처방법 - 플코 블로그, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://blog.plco.pro/athtlete-management-myalgia/
- Eccentric Exercise Is Powerful but Can Be Painful - Frontiers for Young Minds, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://kids.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frym.2020.566235
- Effects of Eccentric vs. Concentric Sports on Blood Muscular Damage Markers in Male Professional Players - MDPI, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/11/3/343
- www.pnfjournal.or.kr, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.pnfjournal.or.kr/journal/download_pdf.php?doi=10.21598/JKPNFA.2016.14.1.15#:~:text=%EC%A7%80%EC%97%B0%EC%84%B1%20%EA%B7%BC%EC%9C%A1%ED%86%B5(delayed%20onset,%EA%B7%B8%20%EC%9B%90%EC%9D%B8%EC%9C%BC%EB%A1%9C%20%EC%95%8C%EB%A0%A4%EC%A0%B8%20%EC%9E%88%EB%8B%A4.
- 지연성 근육통 유발 후 유지-이완 기법이 통증과 관절가동범위에 미치는 영향, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.pnfjournal.or.kr/journal/download_pdf.php?doi=10.21598/JKPNFA.2016.14.1.15
- 운동하고 나면 왜 하루 뒤에 근육통이 생길까? [건강만화] - YouTube, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPaEkbUGZX8
- 건강정보 - 삼성사랑정형외과, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, http://www.samsungsarang.co.kr/News/LectureView.asp?srno=28357&page=1&gubun=&keyword=
- Physical Therapies for Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness: A Protocol for an Umbrella and Mapping Systematic Review with Meta-Meta-Analysis - MDPI, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/13/7/2006
- 근육의 수축 - 청춘병원, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.ccreha.com/base/mobile/sub6/01.php?com_board_basic=read_form&com_board_idx=52
- 신장성 수축은 무조건 느리게?! - 잠백이 카드뉴스, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://jambaekee.com/article/%EB%89%B4%EC%8A%A4/5/379448/
- 근 수축의 종류, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, http://contents.kocw.or.kr/KOCW/document/2015/shinhan/seosuyeon/5.pdf
- Delayed-muscle-soreness-The-inflammatory-response-to-muscle-injury-and-its-clinical-implications.pdf - ResearchGate, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/W-Darlene-Reid-2/publication/15718378_Delayed_muscle_soreness_The_inflammatory_response_to_muscle_injury_and_its_clinical_implications/links/00b495342b58f06741000000/Delayed-muscle-soreness-The-inflammatory-response-to-muscle-injury-and-its-clinical-implications.pdf
- 근육통이 생기면 왜 그 부위가 땡기나요? 1~2주 이상 갈 수도 있을까요? - 닥터나우, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://doctornow.co.kr/content/qna/1068e121510148bc90210b977132be2d
- 한국전문물리치료학회지 제7권 제1호 - KAUTPT Vol. 7 No. 1 2000. - 유지-이완기법과 냉치료가 지연성 - ResearchGate, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Heon-Seock-Cynn/publication/277372898_The_Effect_of_Hold-Relax_Technique_and_Cryotherapy_on_Delayed_Onset_Muscle_Soreness/links/5569c0dc08aec22683035a3b/The-Effect-of-Hold-Relax-Technique-and-Cryotherapy-on-Delayed-Onset-Muscle-Soreness.pdf?origin=scientificContributions
- Inflammation balance in skeletal muscle damage and repair - PMC - PubMed Central, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9909416/
- 사이토카인 폭풍: 면역 체계가 과잉 반응하면 어떻게 될까요? - Assay Genie Korea, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.assaygenie.kr/blog/cytokine-storms-and-the-immune-response-kr
- :: Exercise Science, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.ksep-es.org/journal/view.php?number=865
- 근골격계 통증에 수반되는 근경련의 치료-1 - 후생신보, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, http://www.whosaeng.com/31983
- Delayed Onset Muscular Soreness: A Look into Post ... - Touro Scholar, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://touroscholar.touro.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1143&context=quill_and_scope
- Ice‐water immersion and delayed‐onset muscle soreness: a randomised controlled trial - PMC - PubMed Central, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2465319/
- 만성 통증의 발생 기전과 중재적 신경-근 자극요법, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.kjfm.or.kr/upload/pdf/Jkafm027-05-01.pdf
- Understanding Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness and Its Relation to Strength and Hypertrophy - Dabbs Fitness, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.dabbsfitness.com/delayed-muscle-soreness-relation-strength-hypertrophy/
- 통증 - Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.christopherreeve.org/international/korean-hub/v/2%EC%B0%A8-%EC%A7%88%ED%99%98%EA%B3%BC-%EA%B1%B4%EA%B0%95-%EA%B4%80%EB%A6%AC/%ED%86%B5%EC%A6%9D/
- 통증의 신호전달: 통증 유입, 통증 전달, 통증 조절 - Metamedic, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://metamedic.co.kr/content/633d2373571b5048b5e903ef
- 통증 개요 - 뇌, 척수, 신경 장애 - MSD 매뉴얼 - 일반인용, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.msdmanuals.com/ko/home/%EB%87%8C-%EC%B2%99%EC%88%98-%EC%8B%A0%EA%B2%BD-%EC%9E%A5%EC%95%A0/%ED%86%B5%EC%A6%9D/%ED%86%B5%EC%A6%9D-%EA%B0%9C%EC%9A%94
- Science Fact or Science Fiction? Lactic Acid Buildup Causes Muscle Fatigue and Soreness, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.pfizer.com/news/articles/science_fact_or_science_fiction_lactic_acid_buildup_causes_muscle_fatigue_and_soreness
- 젖산이 근육통 원인? 운동 에너지원으로 재사용! - 한국아파트신문, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.hapt.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=164844
- 사람을 살린 상한 우유 '젖산'에 관한 오해와 진실 | 지식채널e - YouTube, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsR-vVOSY0c
- Myth-busting: lactic acid - Equinox, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.equinox.com/articles/2019/09/lactic-acid-lactate-myth-busting
- Lactic Acid and Muscle Soreness: Debunking the Myth | BASS Medical Group, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.bassmedicalgroup.com/blog-post/lactic-acid-myth-muscle-soreness
- The Application of DOMS Mechanism and Prevention in Physical Education and Training - PMC, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8759844/
- 운동 후 피로는 젖산 때문? 피로물질의 진실 - 하이닥, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://news.hidoc.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=15147
- What Is Lactic Acid? - Cleveland Clinic, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24521-lactic-acid
- 근육 빨리 회복시켜주는 영양제 과연 있을까? - 헬스경향, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://k-health.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=66149
- 코리 회로 - 위키백과, 우리 모두의 백과사전, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%BD%94%EB%A6%AC_%ED%9A%8C%EB%A1%9C
- 락트산 - 위키백과, 우리 모두의 백과사전, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EB%9D%BD%ED%8A%B8%EC%82%B0
- 우리가 몰랐던 젖산의 새로운 기능 - 사이언스타임즈, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.sciencetimes.co.kr/?news=%EC%9A%B0%EB%A6%AC%EA%B0%80-%EB%AA%B0%EB%9E%90%EB%8D%98-%EC%A0%96%EC%82%B0%EC%9D%98-%EC%83%88%EB%A1%9C%EC%9A%B4-%EA%B8%B0%EB%8A%A5
- 젖산염 섭취가 근육(단백질) 합성에 도움이 된다고?! / 차의과대학교 스포츠의학대학원 임상생리학 양우휘, 건국대 대학원 스포츠의학과 김지수 - YouTube, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phD9lOI3Uv4
- Does muscle damage cause hypertrophy? | by Chris Beardsley - Medium, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://sandcresearch.medium.com/does-muscle-damage-cause-hypertrophy-bf99b652694b
- All You Need to Know About DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) - Naked Nutrition, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://nakednutrition.com/blogs/fitness/delayed-onset-muscle-soreness
- Is Post-Exercise Muscle Soreness a Valid Indicator of Muscular Adaptations?, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.cka.ca/en/nlka-current-issues/is-post-exercise-muscle-soreness-a-valid-indicator-of-muscular-adaptations
- 운동 후 '근육통', 근육 생기고 있다는 증거일까? - 하이닥, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://news.hidoc.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=31011
- 운동 후 '근육통', 근육 생기고 있다는 증거일까? > 건강정보 - 성가롤로병원, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.stcarollo.or.kr/0401/5588
- 운동 후 '근육통', 근육 생기고 있다는 증거일까? - 훈훈한내과, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, http://www.hunhunhan.co.kr/Module/News/News.asp?Mode=V&Srno=31529
- 근육통과 근육 성장은 큰 관련이 없습니다 - 잠백이 카드뉴스, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://jambaekee.com/article/%EB%89%B4%EC%8A%A4/5/373411/
- 근육통은 왜 다음날 나타날까? [근육통과 근성장의 관계] - YouTube, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPnZhAC7uTA
- 근육통이 있을 때 운동해도 괜찮을까…연구 - 디지털투데이 (DigitalToday), 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.digitaltoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=590904
- Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS): The Repeated Bout Effect and Chemotherapy-Induced Axonopathy May Help Explain the Dying-Back Mechanism in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases - MDPI, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/1/108
- Redalyc.REPEATED BOUT EFFECT: RESEARCH UPDATE AND FUTURE PERSPECTIVE, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/930/93018594002.pdf
- Should You Be Exercising With DOMS? (Sore Muscles) - Veloforte, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://veloforte.com/blogs/fuel-better/should-you-be-exercising-with-doms
- Physiological and Neural Adaptations to Eccentric Exercise: Mechanisms and Considerations for Training - PMC - PubMed Central, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4620252/
- Physiological and Neural Adaptations to Eccentric Exercise: Mechanisms and Considerations for Training - ResearchGate, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282808645_Physiological_and_Neural_Adaptations_to_Eccentric_Exercise_Mechanisms_and_Considerations_for_Training
- Neural Contributions to Muscle Growth - NSCA, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.nsca.com/education/articles/kinetic-select/neural-contributions-to-muscle-growth/
- How to Tell the Difference Between an Ache or Injury - True Sports Physical Therapy, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.truesportsphysicaltherapy.com/blogs/differentiate-ache-from-injury
- Effects of Muscle Architecture on Eccentric Exercise Induced Muscle Damage Responses, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.jssm.org/researchjssm-20-655.xml.xml
- Does the muscle group that gets DOMS indicate anything? : r/running - Reddit, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.reddit.com/r/running/comments/1g8omts/does_the_muscle_group_that_gets_doms_indicate/
- Muscle pain When to see a doctor - Mayo Clinic, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/muscle-pain/basics/when-to-see-doctor/sym-20050866?p=1
- 운동 후 발생하는 지연성 근육통의 모든 것 - YouTube, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9PfVpGOucc
- Muscle Soreness & DOMS: How to Prevent & Treat Sore Muscles - NASM Blog, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://blog.nasm.org/doms-muscle-sorenes
- Active Recovery Workouts and How They Can Ease Muscle Soreness - WebMD, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/what-to-know-active-recovery-workouts
- rightasrain.uwmedicine.org, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://rightasrain.uwmedicine.org/body/exercise/active-recovery#:~:text=Active%20recovery%20includes%20cooldowns%20and,%3B%20gentle%20yoga%3B%20and%20stretching.
- How to Reduce Soreness With Active Recovery - Right as Rain by UW Medicine, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://rightasrain.uwmedicine.org/body/exercise/active-recovery
- Active vs. Passive Recovery: Which One Is Better For You? | The Output by Peloton, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.onepeloton.com/blog/active-vs-passive-recovery
- 운동 후 '욱신욱신' 근육통, 빨리 줄이려면? - 코메디닷컴, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://kormedi.com/1633213/
- Delayed onset muscle soreness : treatment strategies and performance factors - PubMed, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12617692/
- 근막이완 마사지가 하체지연성 근육통의 감소, 근육이완 및 회복에 미치는, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.e-ajbc.org/upload/pdf/7%EA%B9%80%ED%9D%AC%EB%9D%BC,%EB%A5%98%EC%9D%80%EB%AF%B8,%EC%8B%A0%ED%98%84%EC%9E%AC.pdf
- Everything You Need to Know About DOMS - The Body Coach, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.thebodycoach.com/blog/everything-you-need-to-know-about-doms/
- Mean differences in DOMS in muscle groups and relative effect size in... - ResearchGate, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Mean-differences-in-DOMS-in-muscle-groups-and-relative-effect-size-in-the-prematch-half_tbl2_320718939
- 냉찜질과 온찜질 어떻게 해야할까 > WEBZINE - 하늘병원, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.smcsky.com/forum_06/129?page=18
- 온찜질과 냉찜질, 이럴 땐 이렇게 - 매경헬스, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, http://www.mkhealth.co.kr/news/view.php?idx=MKH200421006
- 냉찜질 vs 온찜질, 언제 어떤 찜질을 해야 할까? - 하이닥, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://news.hidoc.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=32666
- 온찜질? 냉찜질? 헷갈리지 말고 '이렇게' 하세요 - 헬스조선, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://m.health.chosun.com/svc/news_view.html?contid=2022031701683
- How to Know the Difference Between Soreness and Pain, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.reboundmd.com/news/how-know-difference-between-soreness-pain
- Does Muscle Soreness Mean a Good Workout? Understanding DOMS - Sheffield Physiotherapy, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://sheffieldphysiotherapy.co.uk/muscle-soreness-mean-youve-effective-workout/
- Doms away! Is delayed onset muscle soreness inevitable after a workout? - The Guardian, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2019/jan/14/doms-away-how-to-cope-with-delayed-onset-muscle-soreness
- DOMS: Causes, Symptoms, and Effective Relief Strategies - Urban Ice Tribe, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://urbanicetribe.com/doms-causes-symptoms-and-effective-relief-strategies/
- How to Treat Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness - Orlin Cohen, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.orlincohen.com/news/how-to-treat-delayed-onset-muscle-soreness/
- www.fitnessfirst.co.uk, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.fitnessfirst.co.uk/blog/should-you-exercise-with-doms#:~:text=Should%20I%20workout%20with%20DOMS,a%20pause%20on%20your%20fitness.
- What Is Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness? - Cedars-Sinai, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.cedars-sinai.org/blog/what-is-delayed-onset-muscle-soreness.html
- 근육통 느껴지면, 근육 더 잘 생길까? - 헬스조선, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://m.health.chosun.com/svc/news_view.html?contid=2023032901652
- libertybaychiro.com, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://libertybaychiro.com/is-it-just-soreness-or-an-injury-understanding-doms-vs-muscle-strain/#:~:text=It%20tends%20to%20feel%20like,or%20limited%20range%20of%20motion.
- libertybaychiro.com, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://libertybaychiro.com/is-it-just-soreness-or-an-injury-understanding-doms-vs-muscle-strain/#:~:text=In%20contrast%2C%20a%20true%20muscle,ability%20to%20use%20the%20muscle.
- The Difference Between Muscle Soreness and Injuries - Texas Health Resources, 9월 13, 2025에 액세스, https://www.texashealth.org/Health-and-Wellness/Sports-Medicine/The-Difference-Between-Muscle-Soreness-and-Injuries