How strong is the evidence for Massage?

A classic 1998 systematic review first evaluated whether post-exercise massage reduces delayed-onset muscle soreness and found modest supportive evidence, a conclusion echoed by later systematic reviews and meta-analyses of physiotherapeutic interventions for exercise-induced muscle damage. That evidence is currently rated moderate (40/100), built on 4 published studies, including 4 meta-analyses -- a reasonable base, but not yet enough for full certainty.