The role of tecar therapy in the delayed onset muscle soreness and functional recovery

Introduction/Background The practice of physical exercise can trigger the Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS). This experimental study aims to evaluate the effects of Tecar Therapy on DOMS and Functional Recovery. Material and method A sample of 60 young volleyball female athletes (mean age 16.42 ± 1.78) was randomized into two groups (Tecar Therapy Group (TG) ( n  = 30) and Control Group (CG) ( n  = 30). All participants performed the fatigue protocol, and were evaluated in different moments (Before [M0] and after [M1] the fatigue protocol and Tecar therapy in TG; 24 hours after the protocol before [M2] and after [M3] Tecar therapy in TG; and 72 hours after the fatigue protocol [M4]). The participants were evaluated in regard to: (1) pressure pain threshold, (2) muscle soreness (visual analogue scale), (3) functionality (Single Hop Test) and (4) muscle strength (isokinetic evaluation–Peak Torque (PT), Peak Torque Body Weight (PTBW), Total Work (TW), Average Power (AP)). Results The TG presented higher pain pressure threshold when compared to the CG, from M2 onwards of the evaluation (M2 P  = 0.034, M3 P  = 0.041 and M4 P  = 0.002). Likewise, the TG presented less muscle soreness when compared to the CG, from M2 onwards of the evaluation (M2 P  = 0.008, M3 P  = 0.016 and M4 P  = 0.034). On the other hand, it was verified that, when compared to the initial evaluation moment (M0), the GT recovers in functional performance by the end of 72 hours (M0 vs M4), in the Single Leg Hop and in three isokinetic parameters (PT, PTBW and AP), however this wasn’t observed among the CG. Conclusion Tecar Therapy was shown to be effective in the relief of muscle soreness, from 24 hours after its application. Likewise, individuals treated with Tecar therapy had better recovery of muscle strength and function at the end of the 72 hours protocol.