The effectiveness of the homoeopathic preparation traumeels in the treatment of delayed onset muscle stiffness following a standard marathon

Abstract

Delayed onset muscle stiffness (DOMS), a condition characterised by pain and muscle sti:tfuess, as a result of intense or unaccustomed exercise. The effectiveness of the homoeopathic broad spectrum anti-inflammatory, Traumeel S, in the treatment ofDOMS, acquired after a marathon run, was determined. An experimental single variable design before-and-after with control was used. Thirty males between the ages of 20 and 40 years, with previous running experience, were drawn from marathon nmners in the Durban and Johannesburg area. They were randomly assigned to either a placebo or treatment group. An intramuscular injection was administered into the hamstring muscle before and after the race. The placebo group was injected with a 0.9% saline solution, while the treatment group was injected with Traumeel S. Before and after completion of a 42.2 km marathon run the following parameters were measured: creatine kinase blood levels, the strength and power output of muscles, values of static jump, flexibility and pain and soreness perception. The data was analysed using Statgraphics plus version 6.0 incorporating the Wilcoxin Signed Rank Test for determining the statistical significance within the treatment and placebo group and the Mann-Whitney U-Test for determining statistical significance between the two groups. No significance difference was observed in the rate of recovery from DOMS of both treatment and placebo groups