A study investigated the effects of focused extracorporeal shockwave therapy on exercise-induced delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). The randomized controlled study involved 46 participants, who were randomly allocated to either verum (with energy) or sham (no energy) focused extracorporeal shockwave therapy or no intervention.

Although no significant differences were observed in the reduction of pain intensity between groups, the study found that a single treatment with focused extracorporeal shockwave therapy caused clinically relevant effects in the relief of pain, increase in force, and improvement of pain-associated impairments of daily living. While the study’s results need to be cautiously interpreted due to its pilot nature, focused extracorporeal shockwave therapy might present an option in the midterm recovery from DOMS and be an approach to enhance the return to play in athletes.

The study highlights the potential benefits of shockwave therapy in treating DOMS, which is a common symptom in people participating in exercise, sports, or recreational physical activities. This therapy could be a promising alternative to traditional pain relief methods and could potentially help athletes return to their training or playing routines more quickly. The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and is an example of ongoing research in integrative medicine and rehabilitation.