Damage to skeletal muscle cells leads to delayed muscle soreness:how to effectively improve muscle recovery both in recovery speed and quality

Liu Qiang; Zhao Xiang-xuan; Pan Shi-nong; Guo Qi-yong

doi:10.3969/j.issn.2095-4344.2014.38.021

Abstract：BACKGROUND:There is no simple and effective method to relieve delayed muscle soreness. <br> OBJECTIVE:To conclude the injured mechanism and therapies of delayed muscle soreness by reviewing literature about damage and repair of the skeletal muscle. <br> METHODWanfang and PubMed databases (from January 1991 to January 2014) were retrieved for articles <br> related to morphological structure of the skeletal muscle, mechanism of delayed muscle soreness, and treatment and repair of the skeletal muscle using the keywords of“molecular mechanisms;delayed onset muscle soreness;pain;skeletal muscle;injury”in Chinese and English, respectively. Final y, 24 articles were included in result analysis. <br> RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Studies have shown that skeletal muscle injury is related to calcium imbalance, energy imbalance and high concentration of active oxygen. Skeletal muscle injury includes metabolic injury, mechanical injury and inflammatory injury. Insulin-like growth factor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ-coactivator-1αpromoter and tumor necrosis factorαplay important roles in skeletal muscle repair process. Animal experiments have demonstrated that edaravone may reduce secondary damage and inflammatory infiltration by means of directly preventing rapid peroxidation injury of free radicals in the skeletal muscle. Clinical studies have shown that Chinese medicine preparations, massage and acupuncture can delay the occurrence of exercise-induced muscle injury and fatigue, to improve the speed and quality of the recovery of damaged muscles. The treatment of delayed muscle soreness can achieve satisfactory results by combining physiotherapy with traditional Chinese medicine.