The Effects of Postexercise Cooling on Muscle Performance and Soreness Perception
in International Journal of Athletic Therapy and TrainingClick name to view affiliation
It is common practice for athletes to treat their aches and pain after training with cold-water immersion. The purpose of this study is to determine if cold-water immersion affects an athlete’s postexercise recovery on muscle performance or pain perception. Twenty-two subjects were assessed on measures of pain and muscle performance tests and then randomly assigned to a cryotherapy or control group after performing plyometric exercises. Cryotherapy resulted in substantially less perception of pain 24 hr postexercise compared with the control, however, muscle performance was not substantially effected. Our results demonstrate that cryotherapy may be beneficial for reducing postexercise pain perception.
Jeffrey R. Doeringer is an assistant professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance at Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Megan Colas is an assistant professor and clinical education director in the Department of Health and Human Performance at Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Corey Peacock is an assistant professor in the Department of Health and Human Performance at Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Dustin R. Gatens is a head athletic trainer and research & development coordinator at Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL; and also the Athletic Trainers’ Association of Florida Southern Representative. Jeffrey B. Driban, PhD, ATC, CSCS, Tufts University, is the report editor for this article.
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