title: Comparison of the effects of electrical stimulation and cold-water immersion on muscle soreness after resistance exercise.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Resistance training is a common form of exercise for competitive and recreational athletes. Enhancing recovery from resistance training may improve the muscle-remodeling processes, stimulating a faster return to peak performance.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of 2 different recovery modalities, neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and cold-water immersion (CWI), on performance and biochemical and ultrasonographic measures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty resistance-trained men (23.1 ± 2.9 y, 175.2 ± 7.1 cm, 82.1 ± 8.4 kg) were randomly assigned to NMES, CWI, or control (CON).
  
  
  METHODS
  All participants completed a high-volume lower-body resistance-training workout on d 1 and returned to the human performance laboratory 24 (24H) and 48 h (48 H) postexercise for follow-up testing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were obtained preexercise (PRE) and immediately (IP), 30 min (30 P), 24 h (24H), and 48 h (48 H) post. Subjects were examined for performance changes in the squat exercise (total repetitions and average power per repetition), biomarkers of inflammation, and changes in cross-sectional area and echo intensity (EI) of the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis muscles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No differences between groups were observed in the number of repetitions (P = .250; power: P = .663). Inferential-based analysis indicated that increases in C-reactive protein concentrations were likely increased by a greater magnitude after CWI compared with CON, while NMES possibly decreased more than CON from IP to 24H. Increases in interleukin-10 concentrations between IP and 30 P were likely greater in CWI than NMES but not different from CON. Inferential-based analysis of RF EI indicated a likely decrease for CWI between IP and 48 H. No other differences between groups were noted in any other muscle-architecture measures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results indicated that CWI induced greater increases in pro- and anti-inflammatory markers, while decreasing RF EI, suggesting that CWI may be effective in enhancing short-term muscle recovery after high-volume bouts of resistance exercise.
authors.affiliation: Inst of Exercise Science and Wellness, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL.
authors.forename: Adam R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Jajtner
authors.forename: Jay R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: Adam M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Phillip R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Worts
authors.forename: Maren S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Fragala
authors.forename: Jeffrey R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Stout
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006801:Humans; D007101:Immersion; D008297:Male; D063806:Myalgia / Q000628:therapy*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D055070:Resistance Training; D014867:Water; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014867:Water