Abstract
The present study investigated the effects of three hydrotherapy interventions on next day performance recovery following strenuous training. Twelve cyclists completed four experimental trials differing only in 14-min recovery intervention: cold water immersion (CWI), hot water immersion (HWI), contrast water therapy (CWT), or passive recovery (PAS). Each trial comprised five consecutive exercise days of 105-min duration, including 66 maximal effort sprints. Additionally, subjects performed a total of 9-min sustained effort (time trial - TT). After completing each exercise session, athletes performed one of four recovery interventions (randomly assigned to each trial). Performance (average power), core temperature, heart rate (HR), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded throughout each session. Sprint (0.1 - 2.2 %) and TT (0.0 - 1.7 %) performance were enhanced across the five-day trial following CWI and CWT, when compared to HWI and PAS. Additionally, differences in rectal temperature were observed between interventions immediately and 15-min post-recovery; however, no significant differences were observed in HR or RPE regardless of day of trial/intervention. Overall, CWI and CWT appear to improve recovery from high-intensity cycling when compared to HWI and PAS, with athletes better able to maintain performance across a five-day period.
Key words
water immersion - recovery - performance
References
-
1
Arborelius Jr M, Ballidin U I, Lilja B, Lundgren C E.
Hemodynamic changes in man during immersion with the head above water.
Aerosp Med.
1972;
43
592-598
-
2
Batterham A, Hopkins W.
A decision tree for controlled trials.
Sportscience.
2005;
9
33-39
-
3
Bonde-Petersen F, Schultz-Pedersen L, Dragsted N.
Peripheral and central blood flow in man during cold, thermoneutral, and hot water immersion.
Aviat Space Environ Med.
1992;
63
346-350
-
4
Cheung K, Hume P, Maxwell L.
Delayed onset muscle soreness: treatment strategies and performance factors.
Sports Med.
2003;
33
145-164
-
5
Cochrane D J.
Alternating hot and cold water immersion for athlete recovery: a review.
Phys Ther Sport.
2004;
5
26-32
-
6
Coffey V, Leveritt M, Gill N.
Effect of recovery modality on 4-hour repeated treadmill running performance and changes in physiological variables.
J Sci Med Sport.
2004;
7
1-10
-
7
Cote D J, Prentice Jr W E, Hooker D N, Shields E W.
Comparison of three treatment procedures for minimizing ankle sprain swelling.
Phys Ther.
1988;
68
1072-1076
-
8
Enwemeka C S, Allen C, Avila P, Bina J, Konrade J, Munns S.
Soft tissue thermodynamics before, during, and after cold pack therapy.
Med Sci Sports Exerc.
2002;
34
45-50
-
9
Eston R, Peters D.
Effects of cold water immersion on the symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage.
J Sports Sci.
1999;
17
231-238
-
10
Halson S L, Jeukendrup A E.
Does overtraining exist? An analysis of overreaching and overtraining research.
Sports Med.
2004;
34
967-981
-
11
Lane K N, Wenger H A.
Effect of selected recovery conditions on performance of repeated bouts of intermittent cycling separated by 24 hours.
J Strength Cond Res.
2004;
18
855-860
-
12
Lollgen H, von Nieding G, Koppenhagen K, Kersting F, Just H.
Hemodynamic response to graded water immersion.
Klin Wochenschr.
1981;
59
623-628
-
13
Marino F E.
Methods, advantages, and limitations of body cooling for exercise performance.
Br J Sports Med.
2002;
36
89-94
-
14
Marsh D, Sleivert G.
Effect of precooling on high intensity cycling performance.
Br J Sports Med.
1999;
33
393-397
-
15
Martin D T, Kinsman T E, Eastwood A, Platt M, Paton C, Hahn A G.
Altitude tents do no impair performance response to short-term high-intensity cycling training.
Med Sci Sports Exerc.
2005;
37
S294
-
16
Merrick M, Ranin J, Andres F, Hinman C.
A preliminary examination of cryotherapy and secondary injury in skeletal muscle.
Med Sci Sports Exerc.
1999;
31
1516-1521
-
17
Myrer J W, Measom G, Durrant E, Fellingham G W.
Cold- and hot-pack contrast therapy: subcutaneous and intramuscular temperature change.
J Athl Train.
1997;
32
238-241
-
18
Noble B J, Borg G A, Jacobs I, Ceci R, Kaiser P.
A category-ratio perceived exertion scale: relationship to blood and muscle lactates and heart rate.
Med Sci Sports Exerc.
1983;
15
523-528
-
19
O'Brien C, Young A J, Lee D T, Shitzer A, Sawka M N, Pandolf K B.
Role of core temperature as a stimulus for cold acclimation during repeated immersion in 20 degrees C water.
J Appl Physiol.
2000;
89
242-250
-
20
Smith L L.
Acute inflammation: the underlying mechanism in delayed onset muscle soreness?.
Med Sci Sports Exerc.
1991;
23
542-551
-
21
Sramek P, Simeckova M, Jansky L, Savlikova J, Vybiral S.
Human physiological responses to immersion into water of different temperatures.
Eur J Appl Physiol.
2000;
81
436-442
-
22
Vaile J, Gill N, Blazevich A J.
The effect of contrast water therapy on symptoms of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and explosive athletic performance.
J Strength Cond Res.
2007;
21
697-702
-
23
Wilcock I M, Cronin J B, Hing W A.
Physiological response to water immersion: a method for sport recovery?.
Sports Med.
2006;
36
747-765
-
24
Wilcock I M, Cronin J B, Hing W A.
Water immersion: does it enhance recovery from exercise?.
Int J Sport Physiol Perform.
2006;
1
195-206
-
25
Zhang P, Tokura H.
Thermoregulatory responses in humans during exercise after exposure to two different light intensities.
Eur J Appl Physiol.
1999;
79
285-289
Joanna Vaile
Australian Institute of Sport
Department of Physiology
PO Box 176, Belconnen
2616 Canberra
Australia
Telefon: + 61 2 62 14 12 37
Fax: + 61 26 21 41 60 3
eMail: Jo.Vaile@ausport.gov.au
