title: Use of Cold-Water Immersion to Reduce Muscle Damage and Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness and Preserve Muscle Power in Jiu-Jitsu Athletes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cold-water immersion (CWI) has been applied widely as a recovery method, but little evidence is available to support its effectiveness.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of CWI on muscle damage, perceived muscle soreness, and muscle power recovery of the upper and lower limbs after jiu-jitsu training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Crossover study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory and field.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 8 highly trained male athletes (age = 24.0 ± 3.6 years, mass = 78.4 ± 2.4 kg, percentage of body fat = 13.1% ± 3.6%) completed all study phases.
  
  
  METHODS
  We randomly selected half of the sample for recovery using CWI (6.0°C ± 0.5°C) for 19 minutes; the other participants were allocated to the control condition (passive recovery). Treatments were reversed in the second session (after 1 week).
  
  
  METHODS
  We measured serum levels of creatine phosphokinase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase enzymes; perceived muscle soreness; and recovery through visual analogue scales and muscle power of the upper and lower limbs at pretraining, postrecovery, 24 hours, and 48 hours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Athletes who underwent CWI showed better posttraining recovery measures because circulating LDH levels were lower at 24 hours postrecovery in the CWI condition (441.9 ± 81.4 IU/L) than in the control condition (493.6 ± 97.4 IU/L; P = .03). Estimated muscle power was higher in the CWI than in the control condition for both upper limbs (757.9 ± 125.1 W versus 695.9 ± 56.1 W) and lower limbs (53.7 ± 3.7 cm versus 35.5 ± 8.2 cm; both P values = .001). In addition, we observed less perceived muscle soreness (1.5 ± 1.1 arbitrary units [au] versus 3.1 ± 1.0 au; P = .004) and higher perceived recovery (8.8 ± 1.9 au versus 6.9 ± 1.7 au; P = .005) in the CWI than in the control condition at 24 hours postrecovery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of CWI can be beneficial to jiu-jitsu athletes because it reduces circulating LDH levels, results in less perceived muscle soreness, and helps muscle power recovery at 24 hours postrecovery.
authors: Postgraduation Program of Physical Education, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil.
authors: Líllian Beatriz
authors: LB
authors: Fonseca
authors: Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil.|Martial Arts and Combat Sports Research Group, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Ciro J
authors: CJ
authors: Brito
authors: Postgraduation Program of Physical Education, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil.
authors: Roberto Jerônimo S
authors: RJ
authors: Silva
authors: Postgraduation Program of Physical Education, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil.
authors: Marzo Edir
authors: ME
authors: Silva-Grigoletto
authors: Postgraduation Program of Physical Education, Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil.
authors: Walderi Monteiro
authors: WM
authors: da Silva
authors: Martial Arts and Combat Sports Research Group, School of Physical Education and Sport, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Emerson
authors: E
authors: Franchini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000032:analysis; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006801:Humans; D006875:Hydrotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D007036:Hypothermia, Induced / Q000379:methods*; D007101:Immersion / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D016139:Martial Arts / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D063806:Myalgia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D020127:Recovery of Function; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D003402:Creatine Kinase
keywords: L-lactate dehydrogenase; creatine kinase; cryotherapy; martial arts; muscle power