Short-term effects of two different recovery strategies on muscle contractile properties in healthy active men: A randomised cross-over study

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to compare the immediate effects of cold-water immersion (CWI) and hot-water immersion (HWI) versus passive resting after a fatigue-induced bout of exercise on the muscle contractile properties of the Vastus Medialis (VM). We conducted a randomised cross-over study involving 28 healthy active men where muscle contractile properties of the VM wer recorded using Tensiomyography (TMG) before and after CWI, HWI or passive resting and up to one-hour post-application. The main outcomes obtained were muscle displacement and velocity of deformation according to limb size (Dmr and Vdr). Our results showed a significant effect of time (F(3.9,405) =32.439; p <0.001; η²_p =0.29) and the interaction between time and temperature (F(7.9,405) =5.814; p <0.001; η²_p=0.13) on Dmr but no for temperature alone (F(2,81) =2.013; p =0.14; η²_p=0.04) while for Vdr, both time (F(5.2,486) =23.068; p <0.001 η²_p = 0.22) and temperature (F(2,81) =4.219; p = 0.018; η²_p= 0.09) as well as the interaction (F(10.4,486) =7.784; p <0.001; η²_p =0.16) were found significant. Compared to CWI, HWI increased Dmr post-application and Vdr both post-application as well as 15 and 45ʹ thereafter. These findings suggest that applying HWI could be a valid alternative to CWI to promote muscle recovery.

KEYWORDS:

• Mechanomyography – water immersion – muscle contractile properties – exercise recovery

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Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.