Effects of therapeutic pulsed ultrasound and dimethylsulfoxide phonophoresis on oxidative stress parameters after injury induced by eccentric exercise

IntroductionThe aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of TPU together with DMSO on oxidative stress parameters after eccentric exercise.MethodsThirty and six animals were divided in control; eccentric exercise (EE); EE + saline gel 0.9%; EE + TPU 0.8 W/cm2; EE + DMSO gel; EE + TPU + DMSO gel and submitted to one 90-min downhill run (1.0 km h−1). TPU was used 2, 12, 24, 46 h after exercise session and 48 h after the animals were killed and the gastrocnemius muscles were surgically removed. Production of superoxide anion, creatine kinase (CK) levels, lipoperoxidation, carbonylation, and antioxidants enzymes were analyzed.ResultsShowed that TPU and gel-DMSO improved muscle healing. Moreover, superoxide anion production, TBARS level and protein carbonyls levels, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity were all decreased in the group TPU plus gel-DMSO.DiscussionOur results show that DMSO is effective in the reduction of the muscular lesion and in the oxidative stress after eccentric exercise only when used with TPU.

► In this work we use a model of eccentric muscle injury in Wistar rats.
► We use as treatment pulsed ultrasound with DMSO (phonophoresis).
► To demonstrate the effects of therapy parameters of oxidative stress and muscle damage were evaluated.
► In this study we conclude that DMSO is effective only when used with pulsed ultrasound.