Effectiveness of Effleurage and Trigger Point Therapy in Reducing DOMS Among Female Athletes

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) presents a common physiological response to high-intensity physical activity, often resulting in reduced mobility and impaired athletic performance. Despite the prevalence of recovery interventions, the clinical effectiveness of combining manual therapy techniques remains underexplored in controlled settings. This study aims to examine the impact of integrating effleurage massage and trigger point therapy on reducing quadriceps muscle soreness among female athletes. The research applies a quasi-experimental design utilizing a one-group pretest-posttest method, with data collected from 16 Muara Enim United athletes experiencing DOMS symptoms. Pain intensity was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for statistical analysis. Results indicated a significant reduction in pain scores from a pre-treatment mean of 7.1 to a post-treatment mean of 3.4, confirming the therapeutic value of the intervention. The urgency of this study lies in the growing necessity to implement non-invasive, evidence-based recovery protocols in sports rehabilitation. The study introduces a novel therapeutic combination by systematically applying effleurage alongside trigger point release, which has not been previously investigated within the same framework. The contribution of this research is twofold: it substantiates the physiological benefits of integrated manual therapy and offers practical guidance for optimizing post-exercise recovery strategies in athletic populations. These findings hold substantial implications for sports health professionals in refining treatment protocols that enhance performance sustainability and injury prevention.