Recovery From Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: Cold-Water Immersion Versus Whole-Body Cryotherapy

Abd-Elbasset Abaidia (1, 2) , Julien Lamblin , Barthelemy Delecroix (2) , Cédric Leduc (3) , Alan Mccall (4) , Mathieu Nedelec (5) , Brian Dawson (6) , Georges Baquet (2) , Gregory Dupont (2, 4)

1 Université Lille Nord de France (COMUE)
2 URePSSS - Unité de Recherche Pluridisciplinaire Sport, Santé, Société (URePSSS) - ULR 7369 - ULR 4488
3 UPJV - Université de Picardie Jules Verne
4 Edinburgh Napier University
5 SEP (EA7370) - French Institute of Sport (INSEP), Laboratory Sport, Expertise and Performance (EA7370)
6 UWA - The University of Western Australia

Purpose: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of cold-water immersion and whole-body cryotherapy on recovery kinetics following exercise induced muscle damage. Methods: Ten physically active men performed single-leg hamstring eccentric exercise comprising 5 sets of 15 repetitions. Immediately post-exercise, subjects were exposed in a randomized cross-over design to cold-water immersion (10 minutes at 10°C) or whole-body cryotherapy (3 minutes at -110°C) recovery. Creatine kinase concentrations, knee flexor eccentric (60°.s-1) and posterior lower limb isometric (60°) strength, single-leg and two leg countermovement jump, muscle soreness and perception of recovery were measured. The tests were performed before, immediately, 24h, 48h and 72h after exercise. Results: Results showed a very likely moderate effect in favour of cold-water immersion for single-leg [Effect Size (ES) = 0.63; 90% Confidence Interval (CI) = -0.13 to 1.38] and two-leg countermovement jump (ES = 0.68; 90% CI = -0.08 to 1.43) 72h after exercise. Soreness was moderately lower 48h after exercise following cold-water immersion (ES = -0.68; 90% CI = 1.44 to 0.07). Perception of recovery was moderately enhanced 24h after exercise for cold water immersion (ES = -0.62; 90% CI = -1.38 to 0.13). Trivial and small effects of condition were found for the other outcomes. Conclusion: Cold-water immersion was more effective in accelerating recovery kinetics than whole-body cryotherapy for countermovement jump performance at 72h post-exercise. Cold-water immersion also demonstrated lower soreness and higher perceived recovery levels across 24-48h post-exercise.

Mots clés: eccentric; cold-air; muscle damage; fatigue

Domaines: Sciences de l'Homme et Société; Sport; Sciences de l'Homme et Société; Sport; Physiologie du sport; Sciences du Vivant [q-bio]; Médecine humaine et pathologie; Physiologie [q-bio.TO]

Abd-Elbasset Abaidia, Julien Lamblin, Barthelemy Delecroix, Cédric Leduc, Alan Mccall, et al.. Recovery From Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: Cold-Water Immersion Versus Whole-Body Cryotherapy. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 2017, 12 (3), pp.402-409. ⟨10.1123/ijspp.2016-0186⟩. ⟨hal-02524887⟩