The effectiveness of myofascial release versus transcutaneous nerve stimulation in patients with calf muscle soreness

Background: Muscle soreness is a common myogenic condition characterized primarily by pain and tenderness, typically occurring 12–24 hours after unfamiliar or strenuous exercise. This condition, often referred to as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), can significantly impact daily activities by reducing mobility and physical performance. Objectives: To compare the effect of myofascial release versus TENS on pain management among patients with calf muscle soreness. Methods: 30 participants were taken in the study and were divided into two groups with age limits of 20-40 (male and female) recruited through simple random sampling. Data were collected from JPMC and South City Hospital Karachi. Pre- and post-Likert scales were used to measure soreness of calf muscle. The subjects were equally divided into two groups: (A) 15 received TENS therapy for 15 minutes thrice a week, and (B) 15 received myofascial release thrice a week. An independent t-test was used to identify mean comparison in both interventions. Results: The results revealed that the mean comparison of Likert outcomes in the TENS treatment group showed a significant decrease in muscle soreness with p < 0.01, whereas the mean comparison of Likert outcomes in the myofascial treatment group also showed a significant improvement in Likert scores with p < 0.01. Conclusion: The study concluded that both TENS and myofascial release have significant effects on the management of calf muscle soreness patients.