by For the longest time, many people were convinced that lactic acid build-up was the main reason your muscles got sore and tired shortly after a heavy workout. They also believed that a sports massage was the magic bullet and could quickly flush out that lactic acid and alleviate post-workout soreness, referred to as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
As it turns out, lactic acid (or blood lactate) is a natural by-product of any muscular activity, such as running or cycling. It provides an energy source for working muscles and helps in the process of wound repair and regeneration.
When the athlete is lying on the massage table, the lactic acid has already left their muscles. So how does one explain all that post-exercise muscle soreness? According to Sports Medicine specialist Dr. Gabe Mirkin, “next-day muscle soreness is caused by damage to the muscle fibers themselves.”
He suggests that one should stop exercising before their muscles start to hurt. That burning sensation is the nervous system’s way of alerting you that your muscles are running out of energy. If you push them any more, you will inevitably experience DOMS.
However, if you do experience muscle fatigue and soreness, there’s good news! Current research supports that massage can be effective in reducing DOMS.
