Effects of water immersion on posttraining recovery in Australian footballers.
OBJECTIVE
The authors investigated the efficacy of a single exposure to 14 min of cold-water immersion (COLD) and contrast water therapy (CWT) on posttraining recovery in Australian football (AF).


METHODS
Fourteen AF players participated in 3 wk of standardized training. After week 1 training, all players completed a passive recovery (PAS). During week 2, COLD or CWT was randomly assigned. Players undertook the opposing intervention in week 3. Repeat-sprint ability (6 × 20 m), countermovement and squat jumps, perceived muscle soreness, and fatigue were measured pretraining and over 48 h posttraining.


RESULTS
Immediately posttraining, groups exhibited similar performance and psychometric declines. At 24 h, repeat-sprint time had deteriorated by 4.1% for PAS and 1.0% for CWT but was fully restored by COLD (0.0%). At 24 and 48 h, both COLD and CWT attenuated changes in mean muscle soreness, with COLD (0.6 ± 0.6 and 0.0 ± 0.4) more effective than CWT (1.9 ± 0.7 and 1.0 ± 0.7) and PAS having minimal effect (5.5 ± 0.6 and 4.0 ± 0.5). Similarly, after 24 and 48 h, COLD and CWT both effectively reduced changes in perceived fatigue, with COLD (0.6 ± 0.6 and 0.0 ± 0.6) being more successful than CWT (0.8 ± 0.6 and 0.7 ± 0.6) and PAS having the smallest effect (2.2 ± 0.8 and 2.4 ± 0.6).


CONCLUSIONS
AF training can result in prolonged physical and psychometric deficits persisting for up to 48 h. For restoring physical-performance and psychometric measures, COLD was more effective than CWT, with PAS being the least effective. Based on these results the authors recommend that 14 min of COLD be used after AF training.
School of Sport and Exercise Science, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.
George P
GP
Elias
Matthew C
MC
Varley
Victoria L
VL
Wyckelsma
Michael J
MJ
McKenna
Clare L
CL
Minahan
Robert J
RJ
Aughey
D000293:Adolescent; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001315:Australia; D003080:Cold Temperature; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D006875:Hydrotherapy; D007101:Immersion; D035002:Lower Extremity; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D018763:Muscle Fatigue; D053580:Muscle Strength; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011594:Psychometrics; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014867:Water; D055815:Young Adult
D014867:Water