Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is a type of ultrastructural muscle injury. It manifests from eccentric or unfamiliar exercise and includes reduced force capacities, increased painful restriction of movement, stiffness, swelling, and joint dysfunction. Although DOMS is considered a mild form of injury, it is one of the most common reasons for compromised sportive performance.
Biopsy analyses of muscles have revealed ultrastructural lesions which cause further apoptosis and inflammation [8, 9].
In a recent study, healthy control subjects tested the effects of curcumin (400 mg/day) before and after participating in exercises designed to induce muscle soreness. Curcumin supplementation resulted in significantly smaller increases in local proinflammatory chemicals following exercise compared to the placebo. This may help to decrease recovery time and improve performance during subsequent exercise sessions.