The Claim

In rat models of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), activation of the B2 bradykinin receptor during or immediately after lengthening contractions initiates a signaling cascade that leads to mechanical hyperalgesia. Subcutaneous administration of the B2 antagonist HOE 140 before, but not after, exercise prevents both the reduction in muscular mechanical withdrawal threshold and the upregulation of nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA in muscle, indicating that early bradykinin signaling is necessary for the development of DOMS.

Source: Neurochemical mechanism of muscular pain: Insight from the study on delayed onset muscle soreness

What the research says

Roughly balanced

Support and challenge are close. The picture may shift as more studies come in.

Supports
1score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

How it works
1 study reviewed
In plain English

In rats, sore muscles after unusual exercise seem to start with a specific pain signal (called bradykinin) turning on right when the exercise happens. If you block that signal before exercise, the rats don’t get sore — but only if you block it early.

See the scientific wording

In rat models of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), activation of the B2 bradykinin receptor during or immediately after lengthening contractions initiates a cascade leading to mechanical hyperalgesia, as subcutaneous administration of the B2 antagonist HOE 140 before but not after exercise prevents both the decrease in muscular mechanical withdrawal threshold and the upregulation of nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA in muscle, indicating early bradykinin signaling is necessary for DOMS development.

What the research says

1 study

  1. Study: Neurochemical mechanism of muscular pain: Insight from the study on delayed onset muscle soreness

    The study shows that blocking a specific pain-related receptor (B2) early in muscle soreness helps prevent pain signals from building up, which matches the idea in the claim.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.