The Effects Exercise Induced Muscle Soreness on Balance and Pain

Event Center A & B

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effects of exercise induced muscle soreness on balance and pain. Methods: Eight males and females volunteered to participate in 5 testing sessions. Day one, participants performed a dynamic warm-up followed by familiarization of all testing protocols. Day 2, baseline measures were obtained. Double leg (DL) static and dynamic balance was tested on the Biodex Balance System SD. The balance tests consisted of Double Leg Static Balance (DLSB) and Double Leg Dynamic Balance (DLDB). Pain in the quadriceps was measured using a visual analogue scale. Participants then performed the muscle damage protocol consisting of 40% of body weight front-loaded; Bulgarian Split Squats. Day 3-5, participants returned to the lab, where identical balance and pain measures were repeated after performing the damage protocol. To monitor the effects of the damage protocol, participants returned to the lab for 24, 48, and 72 hours to re-test for balance and pain measures. A 1x5 repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze the difference between baseline and all time points for each variable. Results: There was a significant (p< 0.05) difference between 24, 48, and 72hr time points in the pain scale. There was no significant (p> 0.05) difference between all-time points in both double leg balance conditions. Discussion: These results indicate the pain scale results show the damage protocol did induce DOMS between each testing day. However, the DOMS was not severe enough to cause impairments in DL static and dynamic balance.