The aim of the current study, for which ethical approval was obtained, was to assess the hypoalgesic efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) upon acute stage (72 h) experimentally induced delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). TENS naive subjects (n = 48; 24 male and 24 female) were recruited, screened for relevant pathology and randomly allocated to one of four experimental groups: control, placebo, low TENS (200 microseconds; 4 Hz) or high TENS group (200 microseconds; 110 Hz). DOMS was induced in a standardised fashion in the non-dominant elbow flexors of all subjects by repeated eccentric exercise. Subjects attended on three consecutive days for treatment and measurement of elbow flexion, extension and resting angle (Universal goniometer), Mechanical Pain Threshold/tenderness (algometer) and pain (Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)) on a daily basis, plus McGill Pain Questionnaire on the third day only. Measurements were taken before and after treatment under controlled double blinded conditions. Analysis of results using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post hoc tests showed some inconsistent isolated effects of high TENS (110 Hz) compared to the other conditions upon resting angle and flexion scores; no significant effects were found for any of the other variables. These results provide no convincing evidence for any measurable hypoalgesic effects of TENS upon DOMS-associated pain at the stimulation parameters used here.

Background and Objectives This study, which was approved by the University's Ethical committee, was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of Combined Low Intensity Laser Therapy/Phototherapy (CLILT) in alleviating the signs and symptoms of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) over an 11‐day period. Study Design/Materials and Methods Thirty‐six subjects (18 M:18 F) were randomly allocated, under strictly controlled double‐blind conditions, to one of three experimental conditions: Control, Placebo, and CLILT (660–950 nm; 11 J/cm2; pulsed at 73 Hz). DOMS was induced in a standardised fashion in the non‐dominant elbow flexors using repeated eccentric contractions until exhaustion was reached. Subjects returned on five consecutive days, and two days during the following week, for treatment according to group, and assessment of outcome variables including range of motion, pain, and tenderness. Results While analysis of results using repeated measures and one factor ANOVA with post‐hoc tests showed significant changes in all variables over time (P < 0.05) as a result of the induction procedure, there were no significant differences observed between groups. Conclusions CLILT failed to show any beneficial treatment effect on DOMS, at least at the parameters used here. These results therefore provide no evidence for the claimed biostimulating effects of such therapy. Lasers Surg. Med. 24:223–230, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.