Cold Modalities with Different Thermodynamic Properties have Similar Effects on Muscular Performance and Activation

Abstract

Although tissue cooling is widely used in the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries there is still controversy about its effects on muscular performance. The combination of cooling and exercise justifies the study of this topic. The aim was to compare the effects of ice pack and cold-water immersion on the muscular performance parameters of plantar flexors and muscular activation of the triceps surae. 41 healthy men (mean age: 22.1 years, SD: 2.9) were randomly assigned to cooling with either ice pack (n=20) or cold-water immersion (n=21). Independent variables were cold modality (ice pack or cold-water immersion) and pre- and post-cooling measurement time. Dependent variables were muscular performance (measured during isometric and concentric contractions of plantar flexors) and electromyography parameters of the triceps surae (median frequency and root mean square amplitude). Dependent-samples t-tests were used to compare pre- and post-cooling data and independent-samples t-tests were used to compare the difference (pre- and post-cooling) between groups. Ice pack increased isometric peak torque (mean: 9.00 Nm, P=0.01) and both cold modalities reduced muscular activation in triceps surae (P<0.0001); Cold-water immersion and ice pack reduced peak torque and total work during dynamic isokinetic contraction at both velocities (mean: -11,00 Nm, P<0.05) and affected muscular activation in different ways. In conclusion, ice pack increases isometric torque, while both ice pack and cold-water immersion decrease concentric muscular performance. These results indicate that these cooling methods should be chosen with caution, considering the type of task required during training or rehabilitation. New studies investigating other muscle groups and joints are necessary.

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

“…On the other hand, cold application may transitorily impair muscular performance. This transitory impairment may last from some minutes to 1 hour following the cold application 24,25. Thus, our results may be explained, at least in part, by the time the subsequent test was performed (30 minutes after WBC application).…”

“…In contrast, Dewhurst et al27 verified a decrease in isokinetic torque immediately after muscular cooling in a wide range of velocities (30 to 240°/s). Recently, Vieira et al24 verified that cooling affects isometric and isokinetic torque production differently. They found an improvement in isometric torque, but a decrease in concentric isokinetic torque.…”

Muscle sympathetic nerve activity during cold stress and isometric exercise in healthy older adults

“…Therefore, understanding the acute physiological responses to isometric forearm muscle contractions in the cold is clinically relevant. Studies of adults exercising in cold environments are few and generally limited to those using varied methodology exploring either the control of cutaneous blood flow during exercise (46) or the performancerelated effects of cold acclimation (17,57,61). At thermoneutral temperatures, older adults exhibit either similar (21,40,49) or blunted (26,33,48) increases in MSNA and BP during static HG compared with the increases demonstrated in young adults.…”

Effects of a Single Whole Body Cryotherapy (−110°C) Bout on Neuromuscular Performance of the Elbow Flexors during Isokinetic Exercise

“…The aim of this study was to evaluate the eff ects of a single WBC session (3 min at − 110 °C) on neuromuscular performance in young men. Since other cold modalities using ice or cold water reported detrimental eff ects on performance [ 29 ] , we hypothesized that WBC would result in a decrease in neuromuscular performance of the elbow fl exors. However, we found no statistically signifi cant diff erences between conditions.…”