Sportverletz Sportschaden 2020; 34(02): 72-78
DOI: 10.1055/a-0854-8302
Originalarbeit
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effects of Pre- and Post-Exercise Cold-Water Immersion Therapy on Passive Muscle Stiffness

Einfluss einer Kaltwasserimmersionstherapie auf die passive Muskelsteifigkeit
Moritz Hüttel
1   Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
,
Tobias Golditz
2   Department of Orthopedic Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg Germany, Erlangen, Germany
,
Isabel Mayer
1   Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
,
Rafael Heiss
3   Department of Radiology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
,
Christoph Lutter
4   Department of Orthopedic and Trauma Surgery, Sportsorthopedics and Sportsmedicine, Klinikum Bamberg, Bamberg, Germany
,
Matthias Wilhelm Hoppe
5   Department of Movement and Training Science, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, Germany
6   Department of Orthopedic, Trauma and Hand Surgery, Klinikum Osnabrück GmbH, Osnabrück, Germany
,
Martin Engelhardt
6   Department of Orthopedic, Trauma and Hand Surgery, Klinikum Osnabrück GmbH, Osnabrück, Germany
,
Casper Grim
6   Department of Orthopedic, Trauma and Hand Surgery, Klinikum Osnabrück GmbH, Osnabrück, Germany
,
Frank Seehaus
1   Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
,
Raimund Forst
1   Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
,
Thilo Hotfiel
1   Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
6   Department of Orthopedic, Trauma and Hand Surgery, Klinikum Osnabrück GmbH, Osnabrück, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 July 2019 (online)

Abstract

Background Cold-water immersion (CWI) has become a popular preventive, regenerative and performance-enhancing intervention in various sports. However, its effects on soft tissue, including changes of intramuscular stiffness, are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of CWI on muscle stiffness.

Patients/Material and Methods Thirty healthy participants were included and divided into the three following groups (n = 10): 1) post-ESU group: exercise and CWI (post-exercise set-up); 2) control group: exercise without CWI (control condition); 3) pre-ESU group: CWI alone (pre-exercise set-up). Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography was conducted to assess tissue stiffness (shear wave velocity, SWV). Values obtained at resting conditions (baseline, t0) were compared to values post-exercise (t1, for post-ESU group and control group), post-CWI (t2, for post-ESU group and pre-ESU group; rest for control group) and to 60-min follow-up time (t3, for all groups). Data were assessed in superficial and deep muscle tissue (rectus femoris muscle, RF; vastus intermedius muscle, VI).

Results For the post-ESU group (CWI post-exercise), there was no significant difference between the time points of measurements: exercise (t1: RF: 1.63 m/s; VI: 1.54 m/s), CWI (t2: RF: 1.63 m/s; VI: 1.53 m/s) and at 60-min follow-up (t3: RF: 1.72 m/s; VI: 1.61 m/s). In the control group, a significant decrease of SWV was found between baseline conditions at t0 and post-exercise (t1) at VI (VI: 1.37 m/s; p = 0.004; RF: 1.59 m/s; p = 0.084). For t2 and t3, no further significant changes were detected. Regarding the pre-exercise set-up (pre-ESU group), a significant decrease in SWV from baseline to t2 in VI (1.60 m/s to 1.49 m/s; VI: p = 0.027) was found.

Conclusion This study shows varying influences of CWI on muscle stiffness. Overall, we did not detect any significant effects of CWI on muscle stiffness post-exercise. Muscle stiffness-related effects of CWI differ in the context of a pre- or post-exercise condition and have to be considered in the implementation of CWI to ensure its potential preventive and regenerative benefits.

Zusammenfassung

Hintergrund Die Kaltwasserimmersion (CWI) ist ein beliebtes präventives und regeneratives Therapieverfahren und hat sich in verschiedensten Sportarten etabliert. Die Effekte auf die Muskulatur sowie die Änderung der intramuskulären Gewebesteifigkeit sind jedoch ungeklärt. Ziel dieser Studie war es, den Einfluss einer Kaltwasserimmersionstherapie auf die Muskelsteifigkeit zu untersuchen.

Material und Methoden Insgesamt wurden 30 gesunde Athleten in 3 Gruppen (n = 10) aufgeteilt. 1) Post-ESU-Gruppe: Belastung und CWI; 2) Kontroll-Gruppe: Belastung ohne CWI; 3) Pre-ESU-Gruppe: CWI ohne Belastung. Die passive Muskelsteifigkeit wurde mittels Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) Elasto-Sonografie anhand der Shear-Wave-Velocity (SWV) im M. rectus femoris (RF) und M. vastus intermedius (VI) bestimmt. Die Messwerte des Ausgangsniveaus (t0) wurden gruppenspezifisch mit den Werten nach der Belastung (t1, für Post-ESU-Gruppe und Kontroll-Gruppe) nach CWI (t2, für Post-ESU-Gruppe und Pre-ESU-Gruppe bzw. Kontrollzeit für Kontroll-Gruppe) und 60 min nach Intervention (t3, für alle Gruppen) verglichen.

Ergebnisse In der Post-ESU-Gruppe zeigte sich kein signifikanter Unterschied zwischen den Messzeitpunkten: Belastung (t1: RF: 1,63 m/s; VI: 1,54 m/s), CWI (t2: RF: 1,63 m/s; VI: 1,53 m/s;) und 60 min. nach Intervention (t3: RF: 1,72 m/s; VI: 1,61 m/s). In der Kontroll-Gruppe konnte eine signifikante Abnahme der SWV zwischen dem Ausgangsniveau t0 und t1 im VI beobachtet werden (VI: 1,37 m/s; p = 0,004) (RF: 1,59 m/s; p = 0,084). Zum Zeitpunkt t2 und t3 konnte keine weitere signifikante Änderung festgestellt werden. Eine signifikante Abnahme der SWV konnte in der Pre-ESU-Gruppe zwischen Ausgangsniveau (t0) und post-CWI (t2) im VI festgestellt werden (p = 0,027).

Schlussfolgerung Die vorliegende Studie zeigt unterschiedliche Einflüsse einer CWI auf die Muskelsteifigkeit. Insgesamt kann festgehalten werden, dass wir nach Belastung keinen signifikanten Effekt der CWI auf die Muskelsteife feststellen konnten. Die unterschiedlichen Effekte, abhängig vom Zustand vor oder nach Belastung, müssen bei der Durchführung bedacht werden, um einen möglichen präventiven und regenerativen Nutzen gewährleisten zu können.

 
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