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Hohenauer E1, Costello J2, Stoop R3, Küng U4, Clarys P5, Deliens T5, Clijsen R1
1University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland, Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, Landquart, Switzerland, 2University of Portsmouth, Department of Movement and Exercise Science, Portsmouth, United Kingdom, 3University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), Department of Business Economics, Health and Social Care, Landquart, Switzerland, 4THIM University of Applied Sciences, Landquart, Switzerland, 5Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Brussels, Belgium
Background: Currently, cold-water immersion (CWI) is a widely accepted recovery modality and is believed to improve recovery. Partial-body cryotherapy (PBC) has become commercially available and is considered as an effective recovery method with similar effects as CWI.
Purpose: Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare i) the physiological responses following CWI and PBC and ii) the effects on recovery following a muscle-damaging protocol (5 x 20 drop jumps).
Methods: Nineteen healthy males were randomly allocated into either a CWI (10°C for 10 min; n = 9) or a PBC (-60°C for 30 sec, -135°C for 2 min; n = 10) group. The physiological variables (thigh muscle oxygen saturation [SmO2], cutaneous vascular conductance [CVC], mean-arterial pressure [MAP] and local skin temperature) were assessed immediately prior and up to 60 min post-treatment (10 min intervals). The recovery variables (thigh muscle swelling, maximum voluntary contraction [MVC] of the right knee extensors, vertical-jump performance [VJP] and delayed-onset of muscle soreness [DOMS]) were measured immediately prior and up to 72 h post-treatment (24 h intervals).
Results: Compared to PBC values, CVC (at 30 min), SmO2 (at 40 min) and lower extremity-skin temperature (thigh/shin at 60 min) were significantly reduced in the CWI group after the treatment (all p 0.05). Only lower extremity skin temperature was significantly reduced in the PBC group directly post-treatment (p 0.05). MAP significantly increased in both groups after the treatments (both p 0.05). Thigh muscle swelling and DOMS did not differ between groups. MVC and VJP returned to baseline in both groups after 24 h (p > 0.05).
Conclusion(s): The primary findings in this study are that i) the physiological impact of CWI was significantly greater than PBC and ii) no differences in objective and subjective recovery variables were observed between CWI and PBC up to 72 h post-exercise. Although CWI decreased muscle oxygen saturation, CVC, mean- and local skin temperature after a muscle-damaging exercise, no differences in objective and subjective markers of recovery were observed between CWI and PBC.
Implications: This
study might help to further our knowledge of the physiological
effects between CWI and PBC. These findings might
also help inform practitioners' decisions when they have to
choose between a CWI and a PBC treatment for their athletes.
Keywords: Cardiovascular Response, Cryocabin, Muscle Damage
Funding acknowledgements: No funding was received for this project.
Purpose: Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare i) the physiological responses following CWI and PBC and ii) the effects on recovery following a muscle-damaging protocol (5 x 20 drop jumps).
Methods: Nineteen healthy males were randomly allocated into either a CWI (10°C for 10 min; n = 9) or a PBC (-60°C for 30 sec, -135°C for 2 min; n = 10) group. The physiological variables (thigh muscle oxygen saturation [SmO2], cutaneous vascular conductance [CVC], mean-arterial pressure [MAP] and local skin temperature) were assessed immediately prior and up to 60 min post-treatment (10 min intervals). The recovery variables (thigh muscle swelling, maximum voluntary contraction [MVC] of the right knee extensors, vertical-jump performance [VJP] and delayed-onset of muscle soreness [DOMS]) were measured immediately prior and up to 72 h post-treatment (24 h intervals).
Results: Compared to PBC values, CVC (at 30 min), SmO2 (at 40 min) and lower extremity-skin temperature (thigh/shin at 60 min) were significantly reduced in the CWI group after the treatment (all p 0.05). Only lower extremity skin temperature was significantly reduced in the PBC group directly post-treatment (p 0.05). MAP significantly increased in both groups after the treatments (both p 0.05). Thigh muscle swelling and DOMS did not differ between groups. MVC and VJP returned to baseline in both groups after 24 h (p > 0.05).
Conclusion(s): The primary findings in this study are that i) the physiological impact of CWI was significantly greater than PBC and ii) no differences in objective and subjective recovery variables were observed between CWI and PBC up to 72 h post-exercise. Although CWI decreased muscle oxygen saturation, CVC, mean- and local skin temperature after a muscle-damaging exercise, no differences in objective and subjective markers of recovery were observed between CWI and PBC.
Implications: This
study might help to further our knowledge of the physiological
effects between CWI and PBC. These findings might
also help inform practitioners' decisions when they have to
choose between a CWI and a PBC treatment for their athletes.
Keywords: Cardiovascular Response, Cryocabin, Muscle Damage
Funding acknowledgements: No funding was received for this project.
Topic: Musculoskeletal: lower limb; Sport & sports injuries
Ethics approval required: Yes
Institution: University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
Ethics committee: Ethical committee of Zurich
Ethics number: PB_2016-01125
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
