Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2008; 29(7): 539-544
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-989267
Physiology & Biochemistry

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Effect of Hydrotherapy on Recovery from Fatigue

J. Vaile1 , S. Halson1 , N. Gill2 , B. Dawson3
  • 1Department of Physiology, Australian Institute of Sport, Canberra, Australia
  • 2School of Sport and Exercise Science, Waikato Institute of Technology, Hamilton, New Zealand
  • 3School of Human Movement and Exercise Science, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Further Information

Publication History

accepted after revision August 22, 2007

Publication Date:
30 November 2007 (online)

Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

The present study investigated the effects of three hydrotherapy interventions on next day performance recovery following strenuous training. Twelve cyclists completed four experimental trials differing only in 14-min recovery intervention: cold water immersion (CWI), hot water immersion (HWI), contrast water therapy (CWT), or passive recovery (PAS). Each trial comprised five consecutive exercise days of 105-min duration, including 66 maximal effort sprints. Additionally, subjects performed a total of 9-min sustained effort (time trial - TT). After completing each exercise session, athletes performed one of four recovery interventions (randomly assigned to each trial). Performance (average power), core temperature, heart rate (HR), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded throughout each session. Sprint (0.1 - 2.2 %) and TT (0.0 - 1.7 %) performance were enhanced across the five-day trial following CWI and CWT, when compared to HWI and PAS. Additionally, differences in rectal temperature were observed between interventions immediately and 15-min post-recovery; however, no significant differences were observed in HR or RPE regardless of day of trial/intervention. Overall, CWI and CWT appear to improve recovery from high-intensity cycling when compared to HWI and PAS, with athletes better able to maintain performance across a five-day period.

Key words

water immersion - recovery - performance

References

  • 1 Arborelius Jr M, Ballidin U I, Lilja B, Lundgren C E. Hemodynamic changes in man during immersion with the head above water.  Aerosp Med. 1972;  43 592-598
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Batterham A, Hopkins W. A decision tree for controlled trials.  Sportscience. 2005;  9 33-39
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Bonde-Petersen F, Schultz-Pedersen L, Dragsted N. Peripheral and central blood flow in man during cold, thermoneutral, and hot water immersion.  Aviat Space Environ Med. 1992;  63 346-350
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 4 Cheung K, Hume P, Maxwell L. Delayed onset muscle soreness: treatment strategies and performance factors.  Sports Med. 2003;  33 145-164
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Cochrane D J. Alternating hot and cold water immersion for athlete recovery: a review.  Phys Ther Sport. 2004;  5 26-32
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Coffey V, Leveritt M, Gill N. Effect of recovery modality on 4-hour repeated treadmill running performance and changes in physiological variables.  J Sci Med Sport. 2004;  7 1-10
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Cote D J, Prentice Jr W E, Hooker D N, Shields E W. Comparison of three treatment procedures for minimizing ankle sprain swelling.  Phys Ther. 1988;  68 1072-1076
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Enwemeka C S, Allen C, Avila P, Bina J, Konrade J, Munns S. Soft tissue thermodynamics before, during, and after cold pack therapy.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2002;  34 45-50
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Eston R, Peters D. Effects of cold water immersion on the symptoms of exercise-induced muscle damage.  J Sports Sci. 1999;  17 231-238
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Halson S L, Jeukendrup A E. Does overtraining exist? An analysis of overreaching and overtraining research.  Sports Med. 2004;  34 967-981
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Lane K N, Wenger H A. Effect of selected recovery conditions on performance of repeated bouts of intermittent cycling separated by 24 hours.  J Strength Cond Res. 2004;  18 855-860
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Lollgen H, von Nieding G, Koppenhagen K, Kersting F, Just H. Hemodynamic response to graded water immersion.  Klin Wochenschr. 1981;  59 623-628
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Marino F E. Methods, advantages, and limitations of body cooling for exercise performance.  Br J Sports Med. 2002;  36 89-94
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Marsh D, Sleivert G. Effect of precooling on high intensity cycling performance.  Br J Sports Med. 1999;  33 393-397
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Martin D T, Kinsman T E, Eastwood A, Platt M, Paton C, Hahn A G. Altitude tents do no impair performance response to short-term high-intensity cycling training.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2005;  37 S294
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 Merrick M, Ranin J, Andres F, Hinman C. A preliminary examination of cryotherapy and secondary injury in skeletal muscle.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1999;  31 1516-1521
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Myrer J W, Measom G, Durrant E, Fellingham G W. Cold- and hot-pack contrast therapy: subcutaneous and intramuscular temperature change.  J Athl Train. 1997;  32 238-241
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Noble B J, Borg G A, Jacobs I, Ceci R, Kaiser P. A category-ratio perceived exertion scale: relationship to blood and muscle lactates and heart rate.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1983;  15 523-528
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 O'Brien C, Young A J, Lee D T, Shitzer A, Sawka M N, Pandolf K B. Role of core temperature as a stimulus for cold acclimation during repeated immersion in 20 degrees C water.  J Appl Physiol. 2000;  89 242-250
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Smith L L. Acute inflammation: the underlying mechanism in delayed onset muscle soreness?.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1991;  23 542-551
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Sramek P, Simeckova M, Jansky L, Savlikova J, Vybiral S. Human physiological responses to immersion into water of different temperatures.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2000;  81 436-442
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Vaile J, Gill N, Blazevich A J. The effect of contrast water therapy on symptoms of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and explosive athletic performance.  J Strength Cond Res. 2007;  21 697-702
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Wilcock I M, Cronin J B, Hing W A. Physiological response to water immersion: a method for sport recovery?.  Sports Med. 2006;  36 747-765
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 Wilcock I M, Cronin J B, Hing W A. Water immersion: does it enhance recovery from exercise?.  Int J Sport Physiol Perform. 2006;  1 195-206
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Zhang P, Tokura H. Thermoregulatory responses in humans during exercise after exposure to two different light intensities.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1999;  79 285-289
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar

Joanna Vaile

Australian Institute of Sport
Department of Physiology

PO Box 176, Belconnen

2616 Canberra

Australia

Phone: + 61 2 62 14 12 37

Fax: + 61 26 21 41 60 3

Email: Jo.Vaile@ausport.gov.au