What causes DOMS?

    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    Although the exact mechanism of DOMS hasn’t been determined, DOMS tends to occur after eccentric (muscle-lengthening) or novel exercises. Other factors, such as muscle damage, neutrophil accumulation, oxidative stress, inflammatory compounds (histamine, bradykinins, and prostaglandins), and fluid accumulation may also contribute to the symptoms of DOMS.[1] However, if a person performs an exercise that causes DOMS, they may feel less sore when they perform the same exercise during future workouts; this is known as the repeated bout effect.[2]

    References

    1. ^Thilo Hotfiel, Jürgen Freiwald, Matthias Wilhelm Hoppe, Christoph Lutter, Raimund Forst, Casper Grim, Wilhelm Bloch, Moritz Hüttel, Rafael HeissAdvances in Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS): Part I: Pathogenesis and DiagnosticsSportverletz Sportschaden.(2018 Dec)
    2. ^Hyldahl RD, Chen TC, Nosaka KMechanisms and Mediators of the Skeletal Muscle Repeated Bout Effect.Exerc Sport Sci Rev.(2017-01)