Citation

Pointon M, Duffield R. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2012; 44(2): 206-216.

Affiliation

School of Human Movement Studies, Charles Sturt University, Panorama Avenue, Bathurst, NSW, Australia, 2795.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1249/MSS.0b013e31822b0977

PMID

21716151

Abstract

PURPOSE:: This investigation examined the effects of cold water immersion (CWI) recovery following simulated collision-sport exercise. METHODS:: Ten male rugby athletes performed three sessions consisting of a 2×30-min intermittent-sprint protocol (ISE) with either tackling (T) or no tackling (CONT), followed by a 20-min CWIintervention (TCWI) or passive recovery (TPASS and CONT) in a randomized order. The ISE consisted of a 15-m sprint every minute separated by self-paced bouts of hard-running, jogging and walking for the remainder of the minute. Every 6 rotation, participants performed 5×10-m runs, receiving a shoulder-led tackle to the lower-body on each effort. Sprint time and distance covered during ISEwere recorded, with voluntary (MVC) and evoked neuromuscular function (VA), electromyogram (RMS), ratings of perceived muscle soreness (MS), capillary and venous blood markers for metabolites and muscle damage measured pre- and post-exercise, and immediately post-recovery, 2-h and 24-h post-recovery. RESULTS:: Total distance covered during exercise was significantly greater in CONT (P=0.01), without differences between TPASS and TCWI (P>0.05). TCWI resulted in increased MVC, VA and RMS immediately post-recovery (P<0.05). M-wave amplitude and peak twitch was significantly increased post-recovery and 2-h post-recovery, respectively in TCWI (P<0.05). Whilst TCWI had no effect on the elevation in blood markers for muscle damage (P>0.05), lactate was significantly reduced post-recovery compared to TPASS (P=0.04). CWI also resulted in reduced MS 2-h post-recovery compared to TPASS(P<0.05). CONCLUSION:: The introduction of body-contact reduces exercise performance, while the use of CWI results in a faster recovery of MVC, VA and RMS and improves muscle contractile properties and perceptions of soreness following collision-based exercise.

Language: en