Effect of an herbal/botanical supplement on recovery from delayed onset muscle soreness: A randomized placebo-controlled trial

Background: we examined the effects of a proprietary herbal/botanical supplement (stemsport,stemtech,san clemente,ca.) suggested to increase circulating stem cells,decrease inflammation,and attenuate exercise induced muscle damage on recovery from delayed onset muscle soreness (doms).methods: sixteen subjects (male = 7,female = 9; age 23.8 ± 10 years; height 171.9 ± 10 cm,mass 72.2 ± 15 kg) were randomized in a crossover,double-blind,placebo controlled trial to receive a placebo or stemsport supplement (6150 mg/day) for 14 days. doms was induced on day 7 for both placebo and active conditions in the non-dominant elbow flexor group with repeated eccentric repetitions. muscle swelling (biceps girth),elbow flexor isometric strength (hand held dynamometer),muscle pain/tenderness (visual analog scale),range of motion (active elbow flexion and extension),and inflammation (hscrp,il6,and tnf-α) were measured at baseline and at 24 h,48 h,72 h,and 168 h (1 week) post eccentric exercise. the crossover washout period was ≥14 days.results: no significant condition-by-time interactions between placebo and stemsport supplementation were observed with regard to measures of pain (p = 0.59),tenderness (p = 0.71),isometric strength (p = 0.32),elbow flexion (p = 0.45),muscle swelling (p = 0.90),or inflammation (p > 0.90). decrements in elbow extension range of motion 48 h post-exercise were less after stemsport supplementation (δ elbow extension 48 h post; stemsport,-2.0 ° placebo,-10 ° p = 0.003).conclusions: these data suggest that compared to placebo,stemsport supplementation does not improve outcome measures related to muscle recovery after acute upper-arm induced doms. © 2014 rynders et al.; licensee biomed central ltd.