A soothing massage may be as effective in treating sore muscles as pain-killers.

Research published in the journal Science Translational Medicine found that massage can reduce inflammation at the molecular level, mimicking the action of pain-killing drugs.

The study analysed muscle tissue samples from volunteers who had exhausted themselves on exercise bikes and then chose to have one of their legs massaged.

The results showed that massage dampened the effect of the immune system signalling molecules which contribute to inflammation, known as cytokines.

The scientists believe the pain reduction associated with massage may involve the same mechanism as that employed by anti-inflammatory drugs.