Cold Therapy in the Treatment of Exercise-induced Muscle Damage

Summary

Subjects were randomly placed in five groups: (1) single exposure at 5°C in cold water immersion, (2) single exposure at 15°C in cold water immersion, (3) multiple exposures at 10°C in cold water immersion, (4) whole body cryotherapy (WBC) at 110°C and (5) passive recovery (control group). The single exposure groups performed cold water immersion immediately after exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) for 20 minutes. The multiple exposures group performed cold water immersion immediately, 24h, 48h and 72h after EIMD (once a day) for 20 minutes. The WBC group remained in the cabin immediately after EIMD for 3 min. The control group was not exposed to treatment after the EIMD protocol. The subjects were asked to visit the laboratory on seven occasions. The first visit was the familiarization of the subjects with experimental procedures and their anthropometric assessment. One week after familiarization, on visit two, volunteers performed the exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) protocol and they were allocated to one of experimental groups. Indirect markers of muscle damage and inflammatory responses were evaluated at baseline (pre), immediately post, 24h, 48h, 72h, 96h, and 168h following the EIMD protocol by measuring anterior thigh muscle swelling, isometric knee extensors peak torque, knee extensors muscle soreness, countermovement vertical jump and blood sample analyzes.

Conditions

• Cryotherapy Effect

Interventions

OTHER

single exposure at 5°C in CWI

The subjects of this group performed cold water immersion immediately after exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) a single exposure at 5°C for 20 minutes.

OTHER

single exposure at 15°C in CWI

The subjects of this group performed CWI immediately after EIMD a single exposure at 15°C for 20 minutes.

OTHER

multiple exposures at 10°C in CWI

The subjects of this group performed CWI immediately, 24h, 48h and 72h after EIMD (once a day) for 20 minutes.

OTHER

whole body cryotherapy (WBC)

The whole body criotherapy (WBC) group remained in the cabin immediately after EIMD for 3 minutes.

OTHER

passive recovery

The control group was exposed to treatment after the EIMD protocol.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

  collaborator OTHER_GOV

• University of Brasilia

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

30 Years

Sex

MALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2013-12-31

Primary Completion

2014-08-31

Completion

2014-08-31

Countries

• Brazil

Study Locations