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Exercise training during evening may disturb sleep patterns and hinder recovery process. The present study aimed to examine the effect of whole body cryotherapy (WBC) exposure after training in the evening on sleep quality and night heart rate variability (HRV). A total of 22 physically active men were randomized to undergo either WBC (3-min at −40°C, wind speed of 2.3 m s −1 ) or passive recovery (control) following an evening training consisting of 25 min of continuous running at 65% of the maximal aerobic speed (MAS) followed by intermittent running at 85% of the MAS. Each night following the training, the number of movements and HRV during sleeping time were recorded. The next morning, subjective sleep quality and perceived pain were assessed using Spiegel questionnaire and a visual analogue scale, respectively. The number of movements during the night following WBC was significantly reduced (p < 0.05) compared with the control condition. Subjective sleep quality following WBC was significantly better than the control group (p < 0.05). During the estimated slow-wave sleep (SWS), the high frequency power (HF) was higher in the WBC group than the control group (p < 0.05), and the low frequency power (LF) and the LF/HF ratio were lower than the control group (p < 0.05). Pain was significantly reduced following WBC compared to the control (p < 0.01). In conclusion, the use of 3-min WBC after training in the evening improves subjective and objective sleep quality in physically active subjects, which may be due to greater pain relief and improved parasympathetic nervous activity during the SWS period.

Partial-body cryostimulation is used to improve recovery after exercise, especially during competitions or heavy training; however, a limited number of studies have been conducted with international-level athletes in situ during competitions. This study was undertaken to assess the thermal sensation ratings during 3 min of cold exposure (at –130°C) in 24 international-level athletes during the European Basketball Championship. The mean thermal sensation score, measured using a perceptive scale, increased significantly (p < 0.05) during partial-body cryostimulation exposure in athletes from 3.0 ± 1.7 at 30 s to 5.7 ± 2.3 at 3 min (maximal observed value = 10.0). The mean value of 5.7 is considered a “cold” sensation on the scale (ranging from 0 = neutral sensation to 10 = very cold). However, we observed a large inter-individual variation in the perceived thermal sensations. The body mass index was significantly and negatively correlated with the thermal sensation value after 2 min 30 s and 3 min of exposure in females (r = –0.61, n = 13, p < 0.05; r = –0.56, n = 13, p = 0.054, respectively). Three participants reported high perceived thermal sensation after 30 s of exposure and their cold-induced discomfort worsened as the exposure continued. In conclusion, a 3-min exposure is globally well tolerated by athletes and can be used during a heavy competition period and/or during a training period. However, special attention should be given to female athletes with a low body mass index as they seem to be much more sensitive to cold.

BackgroundThis is a field study realized during basketball preparation tournaments for the European championship 2013 with men and women French team. During these competitions, athletes used Whole-Body Cryostimulation (WBC) exposures to enhance their recovery.ObjectiveThe aim of this work was to investigate the effects of WBC on the quality of sleep (QS) in athletes during the night following the exposure.DesignThe preparation took place during one week in a training camp followed by three international matches in three days (one per day).SettingThe study was performed with high standard level athletes men and women of the basketball French teams.Participants27 basketball players participated fully in the study (12 females, 11 males, age: 25.8±3.5 years; weight: 88.5±15.7 kg; height: 192.5±11.8 cm).Risk factor assessmentThe WBC treatment was 3-min exposure between −110°C and -150°C in the morning or/and in the evening after a training or match session.Main outcome measurementsThe QS was assessed every day before the exposure with a perceptual scale graduated from 1 “bad sleep” to 5 “restful sleep” adapted from Spiegel's questionnaire. The data were analyzed using paired t-test.ResultsAn improvement in the QS was observed in the night following WBC (3.7±0.7vs3.2±0.9, P<.05) compared with what was observed the night without previous WBC.ConclusionsAthletes experienced better sleep quality after WBC exposure. Even if the night duration was short during this period, they expressed they had a deeper, quieter and less disturbed sleep. The improvement of the QS during both competition and heavy training load periods appears of importance to enhance athletes' recovery. Such situation may lead to 1) a better standing of the training load, 2) less fatigue before the matches and 3) a decrease of the injury risks.

Ravier, G, Bouzigon, R, Beliard, S, Tordi, N, and Grappe, F. Benefits of compression garments worn during handball-specific circuit on short-term fatigue in professional players. J Strength Cond Res 32(12): 3528-3536, 2018-The purpose of this study was to investigate the benefits of full-leg length compression garments (CGs) worn during a handball-specific circuit exercises on athletic performance and acute fatigue-induced changes in strength and muscle soreness in professional handball players. Eighteen men (mean ± SD: age 23.22 ± 4.97 years; body mass: 82.06 ± 9.69 kg; height: 184.61 ± 4.78 cm) completed 2 identical sessions either wearing regular gym short or CGs in a randomized crossover design. Exercise circuits of explosive activities included 3 periods of 12 minutes of sprints, jumps, and agility drills every 25 seconds. Before, immediately after and 24 hours postexercise, maximal voluntary knee extension (maximal voluntary contraction, MVC), rate of force development (RFD), and muscle soreness were assessed. During the handball-specific circuit sprint and jump performances were unchanged in both conditions. Immediately after performing the circuit exercises MVC, RFD, and PPT decreased significantly compared with preexercise with CGs and noncompression clothes. Decrement was similar in both conditions for RFD (effect size, ES = 0.40) and PPT for the soleus (ES = 0.86). However, wearing CGs attenuated decrement in MVC (p < 0.001) with a smaller decrease (ES = 1.53) in CGs compared with regular gym shorts condition (-5.4 vs. -18.7%, respectively). Full recovery was observed 24 hours postexercise in both conditions for muscle soreness, MVC, and RFD. These findings suggest that wearing CGs during a handball-specific circuit provides benefits on the impairment of the maximal muscle force characteristics and is likely to be worthwhile for handball players involved in activities such as tackles.

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Recovery after exercise is a crucial key in preventing muscle injuries and in speeding up the processes to return to homeostasis level. There are several ways of developing a recovery strategy with the use of different kinds of traditional and up-to-date techniques. The use of cold has traditionally been used after physical exercise for recovery purposes. In recent years, the use of whole-body cryotherapy/cryostimulation (WBC; an extreme cold stimulation lasting 1–4 min and given in a cold room at a temperature comprised from −60 to −195°C) has been tremendously increased for such purposes. However, there are controversies about the benefits that the use of this technique may provide. Therefore, the main objectives of this paper are to describe what is whole body cryotherapy/cryostimulation, review and debate the benefits that its use may provide, present practical considerations and applications, and emphasize the need of customization depending on the context, the purpose, and the subject's characteristics. This review is written by international experts from the working group on WBC from the International Institute of Refrigeration.

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