Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has a documented history of use in supporting the muscles body system, primarily due to its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Its use originated in veterinary medicine and later expanded to human applications, particularly for musculoskeletal conditions. Several clinical studies and reviews, especially from the 1960s to the 1980s, investigated DMSO for the treatment of muscle strains, sprains, and other soft tissue injuries. The scientific rationale for DMSO's use is its ability to penetrate biological membranes, reduce inflammation, and provide pain relief by inhibiting prostaglandin synthesis and free radical formation.

The U.S. FDA has approved DMSO for interstitial cystitis, but its use for muscle injuries and musculoskeletal pain remains off-label and is more common in alternative and complementary medicine. Some randomized controlled trials and observational studies have reported that topical DMSO can reduce pain and swelling in acute musculoskeletal injuries, though the overall quality and size of these studies are limited. Systematic reviews suggest moderate evidence for its efficacy in relieving pain and inflammation associated with muscle injuries, but emphasize the need for larger, well-controlled trials to confirm these effects.

In summary, scientific evidence supports the use of DMSO for muscle-related conditions to a moderate degree, but regulatory approval for this indication is lacking, and safety concerns (such as skin irritation or garlic-like breath odor) remain considerations for users.