--- title: "Effect of percussion massage therapy on recovery of delayed…" description: "Longer duration percussive massage therapy (40 minutes) is more effective than static stretching or shorter duration percussive massage (25 minutes) for…" url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d40206177.md" canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d40206177.html" html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d40206177.html" type: "study" study_key: "d40206177" journal: "Front Public Health" year: 2025 pmid: "40206177" doi: "10.3389/fpubh.2025.1561970" citations: 1 updated: 2026-09-02 author: "Gabriel Radu, DO" author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765." publisher: "Magellan Longevity" content_format: "markdown" --- # Effect of percussion massage therapy on recovery of delayed onset muscle soreness: a randomized controlled trial [Home](https://magellanlongevity.com/) › [Research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) › Effect of percussion massage therapy on recovery of… **HTML version:** https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d40206177.html · **In the Magellan app:** https://magellanlongevity.com/#/study/d40206177 ## Citation | Field | Value | | --- | --- | | Journal | Front Public Health | | Year | 2025 | | PMID | [40206177](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40206177/) | | DOI | [10.3389/fpubh.2025.1561970](https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1561970) | | Study key | d40206177 | ## Takeaway Longer duration percussive massage therapy (40 minutes) is more effective than static stretching or shorter duration percussive massage (25 minutes) for recovering from delayed onset muscle soreness. ## The question What is the effect of percussive massage treatment (PMT) on recovery from delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in physically active young men, compared to static stretching and shorter duration PMT? ## Hypothesis The study implicitly hypothesizes that PMT, particularly longer durations, will be more effective than static stretching for DOMS recovery. ## Methods Thirty physically active male college students were randomized into three groups: static stretching (SS), short-duration PMT (S-PMT, 25 min), and long-duration PMT (L-PMT, 40 min). DOMS was induced via squats. Measurements of pain (VAS), knee joint range of motion (ROM), countermovement jump (CMJ), and integrated electromyography (iEMG) were taken at baseline, post-DOMS, post-intervention, 24h post-intervention, and 48h post-intervention. ## Results At 48 hours post-intervention (P4), the L-PMT group showed significantly greater jump height, peak ground reaction force, and propulsion impulse during CMJ compared to both SS and S-PMT groups. Normalized iEMGs of three muscles in the L-PMT group were significantly lower than in both S-PMT and SS groups at P4. The L-PMT group also had significantly lower VAS scores and greater knee joint ROM than the SS group at P4. ## Conclusion Percussive massage treatment (PMT) is more effective than static stretching for DOMS recovery. Specifically, two 40-minute PMT sessions provided greater benefits than two 25-minute sessions for treating DOMS. ## Limitations The abstract does not explicitly state any limitations of the study. ## Verbatim from the abstract > percussion massage therapy was more effective than static stretching for muscle soreness recovery ## Effect Size (Cohen's d) of L-PMT vs. Other Groups at 48h Post-Intervention (P4) | Measure | Cohen's d | | --- | --- | | Jump Height (L-PMT vs SS) | 8.691 | | Jump Height (L-PMT vs S-PMT) | 4.37 | | Peak Ground Reaction Force (L-PMT vs SS) | 19.174 | | Peak Ground Reaction Force (L-PMT vs S-PMT) | 14.334 | | Propulsion Impulse (L-PMT vs SS) | 8.302 | | Propulsion Impulse (L-PMT vs S-PMT) | 4.517 | | iEMG VM (L-PMT vs S-PMT) | -5.692 | | iEMG RF (L-PMT vs S-PMT) | -8.222 | | iEMG VL (L-PMT vs S-PMT) | -10 | | iEMG VM (L-PMT vs SS) | -12 | | iEMG RF (L-PMT vs SS) | -11.384 | | iEMG VL (L-PMT vs SS) | -15 | | VAS Score (L-PMT vs SS) | -1.53 | | Knee ROM (L-PMT vs SS) | 4.77 | *Cohen's d values illustrating the effect sizes of the long-duration PMT group compared to static stretching and short-duration PMT groups for various recovery metrics at 48 hours post-intervention. Positive values indicate L-PMT was better, negative values indicate L-PMT had lower iEMG or VAS scores.* ## Where this study is used on Magellan This paper is one of the citations behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of affiliate commissions. | Compound or device | Evidence grade | Graded pages | | --- | --- | --- | | Percussive Massage Gun | Moderate evidence | [Percussive Massage Gun](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/168.md) | ## Reference 1. **Effect of percussion massage therapy on recovery of delayed onset muscle soreness: a randomized controlled trial** Front Public Health 2025 · [PMID 40206177](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40206177/) · [DOI 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1561970](https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1561970) > percussion massage therapy was more effective than static stretching for muscle soreness recovery ## Structured data ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d40206177.html#page","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d40206177.html","name":"Effect of percussion massage therapy on recovery of delayed onset muscle soreness: a randomized controlled…","description":"Longer duration percussive massage therapy (40 minutes) is more effective than static stretching or shorter duration percussive massage (25 minutes) for…","inLanguage":"en","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Gabriel Radu, DO","jobTitle":"Physiatrist (PM&R)","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NPI","value":"1376861765"},{"@type":"PropertyValue","name":"NY medical license","value":"275110"}]},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Magellan Longevity","url":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},"encoding":{"@type":"MediaObject","encodingFormat":"text/markdown","contentUrl":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d40206177.md"},"dateModified":"2026-09-02"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research map","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Effect of percussion massage therapy on recovery of…","item":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d40206177.html"}]},{"@type":"ScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://magellanlongevity.com/study/d40206177.html#study","name":"Effect of percussion massage therapy on recovery of delayed onset muscle soreness: a randomized controlled trial","headline":"Effect of percussion massage therapy on recovery of delayed onset muscle soreness: a randomized controlled…","datePublished":"2025","isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"Front Public Health"},"identifier":"PMID:40206177","url":"https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40206177/","sameAs":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1561970","abstract":"Longer duration percussive massage therapy (40 minutes) is more effective than static stretching or shorter duration percussive massage (25 minutes) for recovering from delayed onset muscle soreness."}]} ``` ## Related on Magellan Longevity - [Percussive Massage Gun](https://magellanlongevity.com/p/168.md) — product graded on this and related evidence - [Evidence: rapid percussion, neuromuscular recovery](https://magellanlongevity.com/study/s168.md) - [Longevity research map](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-research-map.html) - [Evidence-based longevity supplements](https://magellanlongevity.com/longevity-supplements.md) ## Scope and disclosures Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication. Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases. Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).