Effects of triceps surae exercise-induced delayed onset muscle soreness on control of body stability in different postures

• Published in: Journal of electromyography and kinesiology Vol. 76; p. 102882
• Main Authors: dos Santos, Milena A., Lemos, Andressa L., Machado, Mathias S., Lazaro, Laura de O.C., Paz, Marieli M., de Andrade, Andre Gustavo P., Carpes, Felipe P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2024
• Subjects: Adult; Ankle; Center of pressure; Exercise - physiology; Fatigue; Female; Humans; Male; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Muscle, Skeletal - physiopathology; Myalgia - etiology; Myalgia - physiopathology; Pain Threshold - physiology; Postural Balance - physiology; Postural control; Posture - physiology; Stability; Young Adult; Ankle; Center of pressure; Fatigue; Stability; Postural control
• ISSN: 1050-6411; 1873-5711
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jelekin.2024.102882

•The presence of DOMS difficults control of mediolateral CoP displacement in postural tasks.•Caution is needed when including exercises requiring frontal plane control in the presence of DOMS.•Landing stabilization can vary significantly among individuals in the presence of DOMS.•Considering specific postural demands is recommended for exercise routines post-DOMS. This research aimed to determine whether triceps surae delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) affects stability while performing different postural control tasks requiring upright and landing stabilization. Twenty-four participants who self-reported as healthy were recruited. Pre and 48 h after a protocol to induce DOMS in the triceps surae, participants were evaluated for DOMS perception, pressure pain threshold, and postural control (assessed by the center of pressure, CoP) during different standing and landing stabilization tasks. We found higher DOMS perception and lower pressure pain threshold 48 h after the exercise. Mediolateral CoP displacement was more sensitive to DOMS across different postural tasks, but no effects were found for bilateral standing. The landing time to stabilization elicited high individual variability in the presence of DOMS. Effects of DOMS in the performance of less challenging tasks, such as bipedal standing, were not found. We conclude that DOMS in the triceps surae impairs mediolateral postural control during challenging tasks such as unilateral standing and body forward lean. It highlights the need for caution and individualized approaches when incorporating movements requiring frontal plane control in training and rehabilitation sessions under the presence of DOMS.