A Random Control Trial of Contrast Baths and Ice Baths for Recovery during Competition in U/20 Rugby Union

Abstract

Players in team sports must recover in a relatively short period of time to perform at optimal levels. To enhance recovery, cryotherapy is widely used. To date, there are limited scientific data to support the use of cryotherapy for recovery. Players (n = 26) from a premier rugby club volunteered to participate in a random control trial (RCT) using contrast baths, ice baths, and no recovery. Statistical analysis, between group and within group, with repeated measures was conducted along with determination of effect sizes in 2 field tests. Pre and postfield tests including a 300-m test and a phosphate decrement test and subjective reports were conducted during the RCT. No significant difference was identified between base tests and retests in the phosphate decrement test or the 300-m tests. Effect size calculations identified a medium to large effect (d = 0.72) for 300-m tests for contrast baths against control. Trivial effects were identified for ice baths (d = 0.17) in the 300-m test against control. Effect size calculations in the phosphate decrement test showed a trivial effect (d = 0.18) contrast baths and a negative effect (d = -0.62) for ice baths. Treatment-treatment analysis identified a large effect for contrast baths (d = 0.99) in the phosphate decrement test and a medium effect for contrast baths (d = 0.53) in the 300-m test. Effect scores across contrast baths, ice baths, and passive recovery along with subjective reports indicate a trend toward contrast baths benefiting recovery in rugby. The continued use of 5-minute ice baths for recovery should be reconsidered based on this research because trends suggest a detrimental effect.

Post-Exercise Cold Water Immersion on Sports Performance Recovery: A Review

“…Conversely, for the essential performance indicators including jump performance (Crowe et al, 2007;Ascensao et al, 2011;Corbett et al, 2012;Elias et al, 2012) and sprinting performance (Rowsell et al, 2009;Ascensao et al, 2011;Higgins et al, 2011;Pointon et al, 2012), a consensus understanding could not be attained in using CWI on muscle power related performance recovery. Nevertheless, the Jadad score analysis in this review shows low on average (average Jadad score = 1.80±1.17) of the quality of the studies.…”

“…In this review, 16 articles are reviewed and related to performances and physical changes. All in all, no significant recovery was found after CWI intervention (Table 2) on muscle power related measures, including jump performance (Crowe et al, 2007;Ascensao et al, 2011;Corbett et al, 2012;Elias et al, 2012) and sprinting performance (Rowsell et al, 2009;Ascensao et al, 2011;Higgins et al, 2011;Rowsell et al, 2011;Pointon et al, 2012). Particularly, (Rowsell et al, 2011);Pointon et al (2012) emphasised the insignificant recovery difference between CWI (8.9±0.9°C) and passive recovery (control) groups, even the invited male rugby players was statistically recovered in both recovery conditions on repeated sprint ability over 5 x 15m sprints at any time point.…”

“…in term of ice-bath; i.e. 10-12°C) is also reported as a detriment on phosphate restoration after rugby game (Higgins et al, 2011).…”

“…CWI is also a recovery technique that has been used in numerous sports disciplines, such as Australian Rules football (Elias et al, 2012;Elias et al, 2013), swimming (Parouty et al, 2010), cycling (Halson et al, 2008;Vaile et al, 2008;Peiffer et al, 2009;Peiffer et al, 2010;Vaile et al, 2011), soccer (Rowsell et al, 2009;Ascensao et al, 2011;Rowsell et al, 2011) and rugby (Higgins et al, 2011;Pointon et al, 2012). Paula Radcliffe, the British runner shared her dramatic experience on reduction of inflammation after using CWI (Mailonline, 2003).…”

The physiological effects of low-intensity neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on short-term recovery from supra-maximal exercise bouts in male triathletes

“…Inadequate recovery from short-term, high-intensity bouts of exercise can be a limiting factor to optimal sporting performance (Higgins et al 2011), and can lead to tissue injury or over-training syndrome (Barnett 2006). Therefore, for athletic populations, it is important to maximize exercise recovery in order to increase performance restoration prior to subsequent physical activity (Pournot et al 2010).…”