A recent international study conducted at the National Research Centre for the Working Environment in Denmark investigated the acute effect of massage with the Thera-Band Roller Massage+ on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). A news release from Performance Health notes that myofascial rolling has become popular for warm-up and recovery, but published research remains scarce. The study involved 22 healthy, untrained men performing high-volume stiff-legged dead lifts to induce DOMS of both hamstrings.

Approximately 48 hours after the participants performed the DOMS-inducing exercise, the subjects were asked to rate the level of their hamstring muscle soreness. Hip flexion range of motion (ROM), hamstring flexibility, and pressure pain threshold (PPT) were also recorded. Each participant was then randomly assigned to either a roller massage treatment group or a control group. The Thera-Band Roller Massage group received a roller massage for 10 minutes on one hamstring with moderate pressure at 1 to 2 seconds per stroke, while the other hamstring was untreated.

The results of the study revealed that the roller massage treatment group had significantly less tenderness and soreness compared to the control group. There was no notable difference in flexibility between groups.

Lars L. Andersen, PhD, of the National Research Centre for the Working Environment, states, “Our research team concluded that the massage administered with a Thera-Band Roller Massager+ had a soreness reducing effect to the affected hamstring. Interestingly, there was also a significant reduction in pain in the non-treated hamstring, suggesting a central nervous system or cross over effect of the Roller Massager+ on DOMS pain.”

[Source: Performance Health]