Utilisation of performance markers to establish the effectiveness of cold-water immersion as a recovery modality in elite football.

Abstract

Optimal strategies for recovery following training and competition in elite athletes presents ongoing debate. The effects of cold-water immersion (CWI) compared to passive recovery (PR) though a triad of performance measures after fatiguing exercise within a normal micro-cycle, during mid-competitive training cycle, in elite male footballers were investigated. Twenty-four elite footballers (age 20.58 ± 2.55 years; height 179.9 ± 5.6 cm; weight 75.7 ± 7.5 kg; body fat 6.2 ± 1.7%) were randomly assigned to CWI or PR following a fatiguing training session. Objective measures included eccentric hamstring strength, isometric adductor strength, hamstring flexibility and skin surface temperature (T sk ). Subjective measures included overall wellbeing. Data were collected at match day+3, immediately post-training, immediately post-intervention and 24 hrs post-intervention. Physiological, biomechanical and psychological measures displayed significant main effects for timepoint for eccentric hamstring strength, T sk , overall wellbeing, sleep, fatigue, stress and group for eccentric hamstring strength, T sk and sleep (groups combined). Group responses identified significant effects for timepoint for CWI and PR, for eccentric hamstring strength peak force, sleep, fatigue, and muscle soreness for CWI. Significant differences were displayed for eccentric hamstring strength (immediately post-intervention and immediately post-training) for peak force and between CWI and PR eccentric hamstring strength immediately post-intervention. Linear regression for individual analysis demonstrated greater recovery in peak torque and force for CWI. CWI may be useful to ameliorate potential deficits in eccentric hamstring strength that optimise readiness to train/play in elite football settings. Multiple measures and individual analysis of recovery responses provides sports medicine and performance practitioners with direction on the application of modified approaches to recovery strategies, within mid-competitive season training cycles.

Athlete, coach and practitioner knowledge and perceptions of post-exercise cold-water immersion for recovery: a qualitative and quantitative exploration

“…Seventy-eight percent of respondents believe CWI improves recovery. However, whilst other recovery methods, such as massage, have been shown to have a positive psychophysiological mechanism influencing the perception of recovery [54], few investigations have looked at a similar response following CWI [55]. Broatch et al [56] showed that a recovery placebo in the form of a pH neutral soap, suggested to participants to enhance recovery, stimulated a similar response to that of CWI, highlighting the importance of belief in the recovery method being undertaken.…”

“…The most reported mechanisms associated with benefits of CWI were cardiovascular alterations in blood flow and constriction of blood vessels. To date, a significant amount of work has demonstrated reduced limb blood flow, or reduced blood volume, across the exercised muscle following CWI [47,[53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61][62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70]. However, more recent data [71] employing positron emission tomography (PET) with an oxygen-15-labelled water radiotracer ([ 15 O]H 2 O) suggests that application of noxious water temperatures (< 8 °C) may actually result in less pronounced reductions in muscle perfusion compared with less noxious (15 °C) immersion (under resting conditions).…”