NRC Research Press (a division of Canadian Science Publishing)
Doi
Abstract
We investigated the effect of post-match cold-water immersion (CWI) on markers of muscle damage, neuromuscular fatigue and perceptual responses within 72 h after a Rugby match. Twenty-two professional male Rugby players were randomized into CWI (10°C/10min; n=11) or Control (CON:30min seated; n=11) groups. Activity profile from Global Positioning Satellite systems and post-match rating of perceived exertion were measured to determined match load. Biochemical (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], interleukin-6 [IL-6]), neuromuscular performance (squat and countermovement jump [SJ; CMJ], peak power output [PPO], rate of force development [RFD], stiffness, 10- and 30-m sprint time and perceptual markers (soreness, perceived recovery) were obtained at pre, post, 30 min, 24, 48 and 72 h post-match. Magnitude-based inference and Cohen’s effect size (ES) were used to analyze change over time and between-groups. Changes were unclear for the match loads, sprint times and perceptual markers between-groups. Higher %∆SJ at 24 h (very-likely[ES=0.75]) and in %∆PPO_SJ at 48 h (likely[ES=0.51]) were observed in CWI than in CON. Values in %∆RDF_CMJ were higher at post (likely[ES=0.83]), 30 min (very-likely[ES=0.97]) and 24 h (likely[ES=0.93]) in CWI than in CON. Furthermore, %∆LogTNF-α were lower in CWI than in CON group at post (almost-certainly[ES:-0.76]), 24 h (very-likely[ES:-1.09]) and 72 h (likely[ES:-0.51]) and in ∆stiffness_SJ at 30 min (likely[ES=-0.67]) and 48 h (very-likely[ES=-0.97]), as well as, different within-groups effects throughout post-match were reported. Implementing post-match CWI-based strategies improved the recovery of markers of inflammation and fatigue in Rugby players, despite no change in markers of speed or perceptual recovery.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author
