Santos WOC, Brito CJ, Júnior EAP, Valido CN, Mendes EL, Nunes MAP, Franchini E. Cryotherapy posttraining reduces muscle damage markers in jiu-jitsu fighters. J. Hum. Sport Exerc. Vol. 7, No. 3, pp. 629-638, 2012. Although widely used in sports, the efficiency of cryotherapy in reducing muscle damage has been questioned. The present study investigated the acute effects of post-exercise cryotherapy on the expression of creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), perceived pain, and muscle strength of the upper limbs in Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitors. Nine highly trained fighters were subjected to two 90-minute training sessions. After the first session, five random subjects were immersed in a pool with ice (5±1°C) for nineteen minutes, and the remaining participants were allocated to the control group. The treatments were reversed in the second session (cross-over design). Analysis of covariance with repeated measures was used to compare outcomes between the groups, and pre-test measures were used as covariates. Pearson's correlation was adopted to check the strength of the associations between variables. The results showed lower serum CPK concentrations (P<0.05) in the cryotherapy group (504.0±138.7 IU/L) compared to the pre-exercise (532.6 ± 67.9 IU/L) group, and a similar result was observed for LDH (517.4±190.3 vs. 601.8±75.7 IU/L). Cryotherapy resulted in lower (P<0.05) perceived pain (2.2 ± 1.6 vs. 4.2 ± 1.9) and body temperature (34.2±1.3°C vs. 36.3±0.7°C), and an attenuated loss of isometric strength (53.1±18.1 s vs. 42.9±14.5 s). Perceived pain was directly associated (P<0.05) with CPK (r=0.59) and LDH (r=0.475) levels. The results show that post-exercise cryotherapy resulted in lower serum CPK and LDH, hypoalgesia, and greater preservation of isometric strength endurance when compared to the control condition.

Background Nutritional ergogenic aids are foods or nutrients that can improve physical performance. Among these foods with ergogenic properties, caffeine has shown that it can increase the fat catabolism, strength, and improve the cognition and time reaction of an athlete, therefore, it is hoped that it can improve the performance of judokas. This study through a double-blind crossover (supplement X placebo) protocol, investigated the effects caffeine supplementation (single capsule containing 5 mg/kg body mass intake 60 min before the session) on biochemical, anthropometrical, physical, subjective and hemodynamic variables measured before, during and after two typical judo trainingcxs sessions (120-min: 40-min of gymnastics; 40-min of specific technics and; 40-min of judo combat). Methods 8 high-level athletes (21.4 ± 2.0 years; 83.6 ± 15.2 kg; 1.8 ± 0.1 m; 17.9 ± 7.0 Fat%) were evaluated before and after each training for body mass, hydration, upper and lower limb power, performance in the special judo fitness test (SJFT), free fatty acids (FFA) in plasma, uric acid, glucose, lactate, heart rate, and pain. In addition, heart rate, FFA in plasma, uric acid, glucose, lactate, rating of perceived exertion and pain were assessed during the training. Results At 120 min, supplementation resulted in a higher concentration of plasma FFA (1.5 ± 0.5 vs. 1.0 ± 0.3 mmol/L; p = 0.047) and lactate (4.9 ± 1.8 vs. 3.0 ± 1.2 mmol/L; p = 0.047), and a lower concentration of uric acid (5.4 ± 0.9 vs. 7.0 ± 1.5 mg/dL; p = 0.04). Supplementation also resulted in performance maintenance (fatigue index) in the SJFT (Δ0.3 ± 2.0 vs Δ1.7 ± 2.5, for caffeine and placebo respectively, p = 0.046). No adverse effects were observed. Conclusion Based on the applied dose, intake time, and sample of this study, we can conclude that caffeine produces an ergogenic biochemical effect, and improves performance in judo athletes.

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