title: Can muscle soreness after intensive work-related activities be predicted?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is currently unknown whether specific determinants are predictive for developing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) after heavy work-related activities. The aim of this study was to analyze whether personal characteristics and performance measures are predictive for onset, intensity, and duration of DOMS after performing work-related activities during a Functional Capacity Evaluation in healthy participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Included in this study were 197 healthy participants (102 men, 95 women), all working within a broad range of professions. Five groups of predictors were tested in a multiple regression analysis model: personal variables, self-reported activity, self-reported health, perceived effort during the test, and objective outcomes of the test. Twenty-three independent variables were selected and tested with a backward regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The onset of DOMS could be explained for 7% by the variables: sex and the work index of the Baecke questionnaire. Variance of intensity of DOMS could be explained for 13% by the variables: age, sex, and VO2max. Variance in duration of DOMS could be explained for 8% by the variables: sex and reported emotional role limitations. Onset, intensity, and duration of DOMS remain unpredictable for 87% or more.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results demonstrate that the intensity and duration of self-reported DOMS can only minimally be predicted from the candidate predictors used in this study.
authors.affiliation: Center for Rehabilitation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Haren, The Netherlands. r.soer@cvr.umcg.nl
authors.forename: Remko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Soer
authors.forename: Jan H B
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Geertzen
authors.forename: Cees P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: van der Schans
authors.forename: Johan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Groothoff
authors.forename: Michiel F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Reneman