Body tempering is a technique invented by Donnie Thompson, “Mr. 3000”, a World Record Setting power lifter and the first to total 3000 lbs. in a regular meet (https://www.bodytempering.com). The technique is used in sports performance and physical therapy and involves placing a heavy weighted cylinder on muscles and fascia, which is then held statically or is moved along the length of the muscle to help with range of motion, flexibility and reducing tightness that often accompanies athletic performance (https://www.bodytempering.com). 

The exact mechanism behind body tempering remains in question. It is hypothesized that its benefits may lie in the principles of mechanotherapy, whereby a tissue’s response to stress changes depending on how it is loaded (Khan, 2009). Based on this theory, the load and stress of the cylinder as it is applied to the tissue is thought to induce a cellular cascade of events that enhance collagen expression in the musculoskeletal system thereby increasing its strength relative to the load applied (Putnam et al, 2019). Theories such as these and others are used to explain the mechanism of action of body tempering; however, it remains a topic for current and future study.

Nonetheless, many athletes love the technique in spite of this limited understanding. Body tempering has been shown to be beneficial as it offers an alternative to foam rolling (Ori et al), Thera Gun, massage and stretching and was rated as more effective at reducing pre-workout muscle soreness (Taber et al). Most importantly, of all these techniques athletes reported body tempering as helping them feel most relaxed (Avalos et al, 2018). This is not to be underestimated since relaxation is the best condition under which movement is learned and recovery is achieved. 

By: Dr. Germaine Herman PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT

References:

Thompson D. Body Tempering. BodyTempering.com. https://bodytempering.com/body-tempering/. Published 2018. Accessed May 16, 2025.

Putnam J, Serafino C, Butts R, Dunning J. Body Tempering for Myofascial Pain & Performance Enhancement: Proposed Mechanisms. Published April 5, 2019. Accessed May 16, 2025.

Avalos C, Chapa C, Espinoza L, et al. Acute Effects of Recovery Methods on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness in Males and Females. Department of Health and Human Performance, Graduate Thesis, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Brownsville, TX USA, May 6, 2018.

Ori, Neal; Goins, Justin; Patel, Jay; and Ingle, Robbie (2022) “Body Tempering and its Effect on Ankle Dorsiflexion and Power,” Clinical Practice in Athletic Training: Vol. 5: Iss. 1, Article 3.

Taber CB, Colter RJ, Davis JJ, Seweje PA, Wilson DP, Foster JZ, Merrigan JJ. The Effects of Body Tempering on Force Production, Flexibility and Muscle Soreness in Collegiate Football Athletes. J Funct Morphol Kinesiol. 2022 Jan 11;7(1):9. doi: 10.3390/jfmk7010009. PMID: 35076554; PMCID: PMC8788561.

Khan KM, Scott A. Mechanotherapy: how physical therapists’ prescription of exercise promotes tissue repair. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2009;43:247-252.