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The effect of contrast temperature water therapy on repeated sprint performance

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Summary

The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of two recovery techniques on blood lactate and repeated sprint performance. In a randomised cross-over design 20 junior representative rugby players (aged 19 ± 1 years) were given either contrast temperature water therapy or active recovery after performing a repeated sprint test. The test was then repeated 1 h later to gauge the effects of the two recovery methods on subsequent repetitive sprinting performance. One week later, the two groups were reversed and the testing repeated. The test consisted of ten 40-m sprints with a 30-s turn-around between sprints. Recovery consisted of 6 min slow jogging (6.8 km h−1) for the active recovery group or 6 min of contrast temperature water therapy consisting of three 1-min hip-height immersions in cold water (8–10 °C) alternated with three 1-min hot water (38 °C) showers. Blood lactate concentration and heart rates were measured throughout the testing. Relative to the active recovery group the contrast temperature water therapy group showed a substantial decrease in blood lactate concentration 3 min after the procedure (−2.1 mmol L−1, 95% confidence limits, ±1.8 mmol L−1), and substantially lower heart rates both during the procedure (−9.1 ± 8.7 min−1) as well as 1 h later during the second set of sprints (−11.7 ± 8.6 min−1). Effects of recovery group on repeated sprint performance were small to trivial and unclear. Compared to active recovery, contrast temperature water therapy decreases blood lactate concentration and heart rate but has little effect on subsequent repetitive sprinting performance.

Introduction

Effective physiological recovery aims to replenish depleted energy stores, repair damaged tissue and remove accumulated metabolites, which results in less fatigue and allows training effects to be maximised. Because of the very high workloads some professional athletes, such as professional rugby players undertake, research has recently focused on recovery, and in particular, how recovery may be enhanced to further improve performance. Most research indicates active (light exercise) is superior to passive (rest) recovery for short duration, high intensity exercise and removal of blood lactate.1

A relatively new water therapy technique known as contrast temperature water therapy, whereby subjects alternate between cold and hot water immersion was found to have similar effects to active recovery for removal of blood lactate but had little effect on subsequent middle or long-distance running performance.2 Little is known about the effect of contrast temperature water therapy on repeated sprint performance, therefore in this study, the effect of recovery modality (contrast temperature or active recovery) on performance and physiological measures in a sample of highly trained rugby players was investigated.

Section snippets

Subjects

Twenty development-level rugby players (17 males, 3 females; age 19 ± 1 years; body weight 85 ± 14 kg; height 1.8 ± 0.1 m) provided written informed consent for this study, which was approved by the Lincoln University Human Ethics committee. All participants were in training (pre-competition phase), of similar rugby standard, and were trained by the same physical conditioner. Participants refrained from consuming caffeine or alcohol or performing strenuous exercise for 24 h prior to testing.

Study design

Participants

Results

Compared to the active recovery group the contrast temperature water therapy groups’ mean time to complete the ten 40-m repeated sprints showed a trivial but unclear increase (0.2 ± 1.3% mean ± 95% confidence limits) (Table 1). Compared to baseline, both groups regardless of sex performed worse in the second bout of sprints. Standard (typical) error of measurement expressed as a coefficient of variation was 1.1 ± 0.4% between testing days and 0.9 ± 0.3% between sprint bouts on any given day. Compared

Discussion

Our findings have revealed a novel observation; that despite lowering blood lactate and heart rate, contrast temperature water therapy had a similar effect to moderate-intensity active recovery on subsequent repetitive sprinting performance. However, without the use of a passive control group it is unclear whether such changes are attributable to the contrast temperature water therapy per se, or to the passive nature of this therapy (i.e. inactivity). However, previous work by others,2, 5 and

Conclusion

Relative to a moderate-intensity active recovery, contrast temperature water therapy decreases blood lactate concentration, exercise and recovery heart rate, but has little effect on subsequent repetitive sprinting performance performed 1 h later.

Acknowledgments

No external financial support was used in this study. My thanks to the Lincoln University Rugby Scholarship students.

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