Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) after Hamstring Injury: Pathophysiology, Imaging Insights, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Introduction Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) represents a common yet clinically significant phenomenon encountered in sports medicine, musculoskeletal radiology, rehabilitation, and orthopedics. While DOMS is typically self-limiting, its manifestation following hamstring injury poses diagnostic challenges because its symptoms overlap with partial muscle tears, hematomas, or myotendinous junction injuries. In this post, we present an in-depth discussion of DOMS following hamstring injury, anchored on the case of a 31-year-old male with right hamstring pain . Using the latest global evidence and imaging findings, this column will explore DOMS from pathophysiology to prognosis , highlighting the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and evidence-based treatment strategies. Pathophysiology DOMS after hamstring injury is primarily associated with eccentric contractions during running, sprinting, or resistance training. The mechanisms include: Microscopic myofibrillar di...