Acute effects of dietary ginger on muscle pain induced by eccentric exercise

Abstract

Zingiber officinale, commonly known as ginger, has analgesic and antiinflammatory properties. The acute effects of ginger on muscle pain, inflammation and dysfunction induced by eccentric exercise were examined. Twenty-seven participants performed 24 eccentric actions of the non-dominant elbow flexors. In a double-blind, cross-over design, participants ingested a 2 g dose of ginger or placebo 24 h and 48 h after exercise. Pain intensity (0-100 mm), arm volume (water displacement), range-of-motion (goniometry) and metabolic rate were assessed before and 45 min after ingestion of ginger or placebo. Eccentric exercise induced moderate arm pain (39 ± 20 mm; mean ± SD) and dysfunction (14% decrease in ROM) and an increase in volume (1.8%). Overall, ginger consumption demonstrated no effect on muscle pain, dysfunction, or metabolic rate compared with placebo. In the sub-set of participants who consumed ginger 24 h after exercise, arm pain was reduced (13%, -5.9 ± 8.8 mm) the following day, 48 h after exercise. Participants who ingested placebo 24 h post-exercise exhibited no change in pain the following day (0.0 ± 14.7 mm). In conclusion, a single 2 g dose of ginger does not attenuate eccentric exercise-induced muscle pain, inflammation or dysfunction 45 min after ingestion. However, ginger may attenuate the day-to-day progression of muscle pain.

The Effects of Pre‐Exercise Ginger Supplementation on Muscle Damage and Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness

“…It is also possible that the ginger constituents have a limited window of antiinflammatory function, such that termination of ginger supplementation removed the protective effect against muscle damage. This is consistent with data from Black (Black and O'Connor, ), whereby individuals who received 2 g of ginger 24 h after an eccentric muscle damage protocol exhibited reduced pain the following day, whereas individuals ingesting placebo did not. While previous studies found ginger supplementation relieved pain associated with eccentric damage (Black et al, ; Black and O'Connor, ), the VAS data from this study did not.…”

“…This is consistent with data from Black (Black and O'Connor, ), whereby individuals who received 2 g of ginger 24 h after an eccentric muscle damage protocol exhibited reduced pain the following day, whereas individuals ingesting placebo did not. While previous studies found ginger supplementation relieved pain associated with eccentric damage (Black et al, ; Black and O'Connor, ), the VAS data from this study did not. It is possible that continued ginger supplementation is necessary for an analgesic effect.…”

“…To our knowledge, the current literature does not provide specifications for a suggested dosing of ginger. Past research has utilized a 2 g dosage; this has not demonstrated a consistent link in reducing exercise‐induced muscle soreness (Black et al, ; Black and O'Connor, ). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate ginger as a possible analgesic treatment for inflammatory markers generated from exercise‐induced muscle damage.…”

Dietary Influence on Pain via the Immune System

“…In healthy controls, ginger has been shown to reduce muscle soreness 113 and muscle pain following exercise. 114 Ginger also reduces pain in patients with moderate to severe dysmenorrhea 115 and osteoarthritis 116 (see Ref. 117 for a review).…”

Effectiveness of Ginger Root (Zingiber officinale) on Running-Induced Muscle Soreness and Function: A Pilot Study

“…Despite some research examining ginger as an analgesic for resistance-training-induced soreness, 12,15 no studies have examined whether ginger root reduces muscle soreness and improves muscle function in the context of endurance training and competition. Given that NSAIDs can cause substantial adverse effects, additional research is needed to evaluate the analgesic properties of alternative compounds, including nutraceuticals.…”