This study sought to compare the effects of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy and sham treatment on DOMS-related variables in elbow flexors at 24, 48 and 72 hours following delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) induction exercise. Overall, the application of the PEMF was found to be effective in reducing the physiological deficits associated with DOMS, including improved recovery of perceived muscle soreness, MDF, and EMD during isometric contraction. Our results did not show that PEMF treatment was mechanically more effective for isometric peak torque generation compared to the sham group.
This study suggests that PEMF may be useful as a modality to decrease DOMS symptoms. However, further well-designed experiments are required to determine optimal treatment dosage and duration, and to examine the physiological and clinical mechanisms of PEMF on DOMS.