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Prieto Mondragon L.D.P.1, Hernandez E.D.1, Quiroga L.V.1, Mancera E.1
1Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota, Colombia
Background: During physical exercise, fatigue causes changes that occur in the sequence of muscle contraction. Thus fatigue is an important risk factor for the occurrence of overuse injuries during sport. Physical recovery is necessary to restore body functions, minimise the residual fatigue, and reduce the risk of injury. The active recovery is one of the most used in different sports, however studies related to active recovery methods are inconclusive.
Purpose: To determine the efficacy of active recovery methods on biochemical markers of muscle fatigue.
Methods: This systematic review was conducted with the recommendations according to Cochrane Methodology, selecting randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in any language. The literature search was conducted in four electronic databases: CENTRAL (Central Register of Controlled Trials of The Cochrane Library), PubMed, EMBASE, PEDro, with cut-off June 2015. Studies with apparently healthy population, athletes or physically active adults were included. The type of interventions centered on active recovery methods after a physical exercise protocol compared with passive recovery interventions. There were no restrictions on length, intensity or frequency of application of the method. Biochemical markers that account for muscle fatigue were used as an outcome measure. The primary variables were: lactate concentration, creatine kinase (CK) and urea taken pre- and post-intervention.
Results: Fifteen studies presented the outcome variables and intervention protocols specified for the study. Six articles had quantifiable measures of blood lactate concentration and Creatine Kinase. The blood lactate concentration variable in the analysis pre-, immediate post-intervention, at 10 min and 20 min shows dispersion low heterogeneity with a significantly greater effect size favour of active recovery especially in the immediate post-intervention measures, at 10 and 20 min respectively. shows dispersion low heterogeneity with a significantly greater effect size favour of active recovery especially in the immediate post-intervention measures, at 10 and 20 min respectively. The measurement of post-intervention CK at one minute and at two days shows low heterogeneity as well as an effect favouring passive recovery.
Conclusion(s): The blood lactate concentration biochemical variable is the most reported variable and the most important to determine the effects of active recovery. Active recovery had a greater effect on blood lactate clearance in the post-intervention measure at 10 min and 20 min and therefore decreases fatigue more effectively than passive recovery.
Implications: The evidence and outcomes of this study reveal that the active recovery is the method with the greatest effect on reducing blood lactate concentration after exercise. These research findings will contribute towards the development of knowledge and practice of the physiotherapists in evidence-based sport. This intervention option for athletes in physical recovery would allow a reduction of costs in medical procedures, rehabilitation and loss of physical performance in athletes.
Funding acknowledgements: The authors didn´t declared funding acknowledgements
Topic: Sport & sports injuries
Ethics approval: The research was approved in accordance to the resolution Nº 008430 of 1993 Health´s Ministry
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
