BACKGROUND: The study aimed to assess whether intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC) and intermittent negative pressure (INP) would attenuate the muscle damaging effects of eccentric exercise. METHODS: Forty-five healthy males were recruited. Immediately post, 24 and 48 h post eccentric exercise consisting of 100 drop jumps, volunteers randomly received 30-min sessions of intermittent pneumatic compression (IPC, n = 15) or intermittent negative pressure (INP, n = 15), or sham microcurrent (PT, n = 15). Creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), isokinetic muscle strength, soreness and active flexion of the knee joint were measured after every therapy session. RESULTS: No significant intergroup differences were observed in biochemical or functional measurements. However, there was an increase in muscle soreness (p < 0.05), CK and LDH activity (p < 0.05), and a reduction in muscle strength (p < 0.05) and range of active knee flexion (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prescription of IPC and INP did not attenuate the reduction of markers to muscle function or pain perception up to 48 h after muscle damaging exercise. Future research should focus on the potential impact of treatment frequency and duration on muscle recovery. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was retrospectively registered in the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12621001294842, 24/09/2021.

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