Heat pack treatment does not attenuate repeated muscle damage in collegiate females

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:Unaccustomed exercise causes transient Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS); creatine-kinase and DOMS are indirect markers of muscle damage. Heat pack treatment increases blood flow and relieves pain. We determined the effects of heat pack treatment on DOMS, Creatine-Kinase, pain and jumping following maximum calf-raise exercises. METHODS: Exercise (3 days): calf-raise, 1 movement every 3 seconds until subjects could not maintain movement speed, Recovery: monitored for 7 days. Subjects: 14 female collegiate students (age: 20-22) with previous regular moderate exercise history, divided into heat pack treatment (n = 7; 40°C, 20-min on both calf muscles immediately after exercise) vs. no treatment (n = 7). Measured parameters: number of daily movements, Creatine-Kinase, oneleg long jumping (JUMP) and perceived pain (PAIN). Maximum dorsiflexion, calf maximum circumference and isometric muscle strength were also measured, but showed no significant variation. RESULTS: There were no differences between groups regarding the number of the calf-raise repetitions; CreatineKinase increased significantly from day 3 of the Exercise-period to day 5 of the recovery period and peaked on Recovery day 2 in both groups; it was higher in the treated-group vs. controls; PAIN significantly decreased immediately after the heat pack treatment; DOMS peaked in both groups on day 3 of the Exercise-period, and recovered by day 4 of the recovery period. JUMP values decreased significantly after the initial exercise and recovered to initial values by Day 4 of the recovery period. CONCLUSION: Heat pack treatment for 20 minutes did not minimize DOMS following the maximum calf-raise exercise, but reduced immediate muscle soreness.

Effects of Combined Heat and Cold Therapy and Exercise on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness in Healthy Persons

“…In terms of using heat combined with cooling, Hiruma et al [10] studied the effects of using hot compress pads at the temperature of 40 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes, causing the ability to work down the muscles. The decrease in the ability of the muscles to work is caused by the lack of strength of the muscles.…”

“…Previous studies have shown that 20 minutes of dry heat and 20 minutes of moist heat could alleviate discomfort after 24 hours of exercise. [23] Hiruma et al [10] shown that employing a 40 ° C hot pack for 20 minutes could raise the temperature of muscular tissue, enhance blood circulation, and alleviate pain. Heat has the advantage of expanding connective tissue, increasing blood flow, and increasing the level of movement.…”