The aim of this study is to investigate if regular cold water immersion after strength training has a negative influence on the desired training-induced performance enhancement.
Recovery strategies represent a not sufficiently investigated chance in elite training control to optimize the complete training process. Coaches and athletes are confronted with numerous potentially effective recovery methods, e.g. cooling, warming, active recovery, compression, massage or power naps. However, the effectivity of these methods has rarely been investigated under controlled scientific conditions. Based on the state of the art,so far hardly any definite practical conclusions regarding effective recovery methods can be drawn, especially regarding sport-specific strategies and settings. Currently, cold water immersion is a particularly popular recovery strategy. However, there are hints that repeated cooling interventions after training can impair the training effect. This could potentially be caused by a faster reconstitution of homeostasis due to cooling. For fast recovery of performance, this effect would be desirable, but at the same time these homeostatic disturbances are the basis of signal processes leading to training adaptations. The aim of this study is to investigate if regular cold water immersion after strength training has a negative influence on the desired training-induced performance enhancement.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
11
10 min at 12-15°C
Saarland University
Saarbrücken, Saarland, Germany
1 Repetition Maximum
Maximum weight in kg that can be successfully moved in a leg press
Time frame: 8 weeks
Counter Movement Jump
Maximum jump height in cm in a counter movement jump, measured with a force plate
Time frame: 8 weeks
blood parameters
CRP, CK, IL-6, IGF-1
Time frame: 8 weeks
muscle biopsy
p70S6, PAX7+, NCAM+
Time frame: 8 weeks
muscle thickness
upper leg circumference in cm
Time frame: 8 weeks
subjective restfulness of sleep
5-point Likert scale on subjective restfulness of sleep (1: very, 5: not at all)
Time frame: 2 weeks
time in bed
Questionnaire recording time of going to bed (time in hh:mm), sleep onset latency (duration in min), waking time (time in hh:mm), and time of getting up (time in hh:mm). From these items, the average time in bed per day is calculated, starting at "time of going to bed" and ending at "time of getting up".
Time frame: 2 weeks
sleeping time
Questionnaire recording time of going to bed (time in hh:mm), sleep onset latency (duration in min), waking time (time in hh:mm), and time of getting up (time in hh:mm). From these items, the average sleeping time per day is calculated, starting at "time of going to bed + sleep onset latency" and ending at "waking time".
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Time frame: 2 weeks
questionnaire on recovery and stress
Short Recovery and Stress Scale for Sport (SRSS): assessing recovery (physical performance capability, mental performance capability, emotional balance, overall recovery) and stress (muscular stress, lack of activation, negative emotional state, overall stress), each item is rated on a 7-point rating scale (0: does not apply at all, 6: fully applies). For evaluation, two outcome values ("recovery" and "stress") are calculated as the sum of the corresponding subvalues, i.e. each outcome value is on a 25-point scale (0: does not apply at all, 24: fully applies).
Time frame: 2 weeks