Abstract
This study investigated the effects of 5 and 15°C cold-water immersion on recovery
from exercise resulting in exercise-induced muscle damage. 42 college-aged men performed
5×20 drop-jumps and were randomly allocated into one of 3 groups: (1) 5°C; (2) 15°C;
or (3) control. After exercise, individuals from the cold-water immersion groups had
their lower limbs immerged in iced water for 20 min. Isometric knee extensor torque,
countermovement jump, muscle soreness, and creatine kinase were measured before, immediately
after, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 168 h post-exercise. There was no between-group difference
in isometric strength recovery (p=0.73). However, countermovement jump recovered quicker
in cold-water immersion groups compared to control group (p<0.05). Countermovement
jump returned to baseline after 72 h in 15°C, 5°C group recovered after 96 h and control
did not recovered at any time point measured. Also, creatine kinase returned to baseline
at 72 h and remained stable for all remaining measurements for 15°C group, whereas
remained elevated past 168 h in both 5°C and control groups. There was a trend toward
lower muscle soreness (p=0.06) in 15°C group compared to control at 24 h post-exercise.
The result suggests that cold-water immersion promote recovery of stretch-shortening
cycle performance, but not influence the recovery of maximal contractile force. Immersion
at warmer temperature may be more effective than colder temperatures promoting recovery
from strenuous exercise.
Key words
Cryotherapy - muscle function - functional performance
