Effects of whole‐body cryotherapy on recovery after hamstring damaging exercise: A crossover study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) on biochemical, pain, and performance parameters during the 5-day recovery period after damaging exercise for hamstrings. Participants completed a bout of damaging exercise for the hamstring muscles on two separate occasions (control and experimental condition) separated by 10 weeks. During the control condition, subjects received no treatment after the damaging exercise. The experimental condition consisted of WBC everyday during the recovery period. WBC included single 3-min daily exposures to low temperatures (-140 to -19 °C) in the cryo-cabin. During the recovery period, subjects were tested for biochemical markers, perceived pain sensation, and physical performance (squat jump, counter movement jump, maximal isometric torque production, and maximally explosive isometric torque production). Majority of the observed variables showed statistically significant time effects (P < 0.05) in control group, which indicates the presence of muscle damage. Significant interaction between the control and WBC condition was evident for the rate of torque development (P < 0.05). Pain measures substantially differed between the WBC and the control condition after the exercise. Results of this study are not completely supportive of the use of WBC for recovery enhancement after strenuous training.

Does whole-body cryotherapy improve vertical jump recovery following a high-intensity exercise bout?

“…Studies by Hausswirth et al13 and Fonda and Sarabon12 demonstrated that WBC accelerates recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage to a greater extent than passive recovery. Fonda and Sarabon12 examined the effects of WBC on muscle-performance parameters during a 5-day recovery period.…”

Influence of cryotherapy on balance and joint position sense in healthy subjects: randomized clinical trial.

“…(4,5) The cryotherapy protocols, which include application of ice and immersion in iced water, are used by coaches and physiotherapists, despite the lack of conclusive studies on the potential risks that the athletes and/or patients may face after its use. (6) The effect of cryotherapy on proprioception, which is a component of the somatosensory system, is still poorly understood.…”

Cellular, molecular and physiological effects of post-resistance exercise cold water immersion: Implications for subsequent perofrmance

“…This finding provides tentative evidence that cold water immersion may have minimized secondary tissue damage. This result contrasts with most other research indicating no significant effect (9,13,14,16,18,19,23,24,39,40,45) or an increase (12, 42) in plasma myoglobin concentration or creatine kinase activity in response to cryotherapy after eccentric or resistance exercise. Differences in the extent of muscle damage between resistance exercise and eccentric exercise, the timing of blood collection, or the timing of cryotherapy treatments after exercise could partially account for this disparity.…”

“…Some of these recovery strategies are collectively referred to as "cryotherapy" and include immersion in cold water/ice baths, topical application of ice, or brief exposure to extreme cold air. Numerous studies have examined the effects of various forms of cryotherapy on muscle function and indirect markers of muscle damage after intense eccentric exercise (6,8,9,16,18,20,37,39,40,42,45) and plyometric exercise (14,19,24). In contrast, fewer studies (10,12,13,23) have assessed the potential benefits of cryotherapy after more traditional resistance exercise, which is more typical of athletic training programs.…”

“…Most of the studies described above assessed the effects of cryotherapy on recovery of muscle function after eccentric exercise by measuring maximal isometric strength from 24 h onward. A few studies have assessed recovery by measuring jump or squat performance (9,23,40,45) or voluntary muscle activation during maximal muscle contractions (39). No research to date has evaluated the effects of cryotherapy on volitional work capacity during subsequent submaximal exercise on the same day.…”