The Research On Contrast Water Therapy For Fatigue Elimination Post--Exercise

Objectives:Water immersion is increasingly been used by elite athletes for fatigue elimination in training and competition.Water immersion is divided into four categories which include CWI?cold water immersion,CWI?20??,HWI?hot water immersion,HWI?36??,CWT?contrast water therapy;alternating CWI and HWI?and TWI?thermoneutral water immersion,20?<TWI<36??.In this study,we focused on the effect of CWI,HWI and CWT on fatigue elimination post-exercise.In order to study the effect and functional mechanism of all water immersions,the physiological response,biochemical changes were analyzed before and after the intervention of CWI,HWI and CWT,which provide construction recommendation and more basic knowledge on water immersion for athletes.Methods:Twelve men's basketball team from university volunteered for this study.All participants performed four water immersions which included rest blank control,cold water immersion,hot water immersion and contrast water therapy.Three stages which included exercise stage I,recovery stage and exercise stage II were involved in the experimental procedure.During the two exercise stages,treadmill was used for running.Based on VO2max of each athletes,50%VO2max?5min,60%VO2max?5min,80%VO₂max and until exhaustion were detected in these incremental exercise.Participants performed water immersion with shoulder and below in water in recovery stage.The temperature of water followed the recovery protocols:cold water 15? for14min;hot water 38? for 14min;contrast water alternated between 15? for 1min and 38? for 1min with 7 cycles?14min in total?.Blood samples were collected pre-exercise,immediately post-interventions and at morning of next day.The detected items included creatine kinase,lactate dehydrogenase,blood urea nitrogen,testosterone,cortisol,interleukin-6,blood lactate,cartilage oligomeric matrix protein,running distance,systolic blood pressure,diastolic blood pressure,heart rate,thigh circumference and rating of perceived exertion.Results:?1?Influence of interventions on the physical and external indicators of knee injury.By effect study of CWI,HWI and CWT on fatigue elimination post-exercise,we found that CWT has optimal effect on running distance?P<0.05?,followed by CWI?P<0.05?.However,the HWI has no significant effect on running distance.By scoring of Lysholm and IKDC2000 on knee joint,the optimal recovery was detected in the intervention of CWT?P<0.05?,followed by CWI and HWI?both P<0.05?.The perceived fatigue of RPE were significantly changed in CWT?P<0.01?,followed by CWI and HWI?both P<0.05?.The muscle Borg ranting was significantly changed after intervention of CWT?P<0.05?and CWI?P<0.05?,and efficiency was more remarkable in CWT than CWI and HWI.Thermal sensations was significantly changed in CWI compared with control?P<0.05?.Intervention of CWI has significantly effect on the change of thigh circumference?P<0.05?,but the range of change was small.?2?The effect of water immersion interventions on blood biochemical indicators of fatigue post-exercise.The biggest changed of concentration of blood lactate were detected in CWT,and its change was significant compared to control or HWI?P<0.05?.CWT dramatically changed the concentration of creatine kinase post-exercise?P<0.05?,followed by intervention of CWI and HWI.By analyzing the concentration change of blood urea nitrogen,cortisol,testosterone and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein before and after interventions,each indicator was not significantly changed between CWI,HWI and CWT.The concentration change the most of interleukin-6 in CWI and the difference between CWT and control was significant?P<0.05?.The concentration of lactate dehydrogenase was significantly changed in CWT?P<0.01?,followed by CWI?P<0.05?.However,the concentration of lactate dehydrogenase was not significantly changed in HWI.Conclusion:?1?CWT has the optimal recovery effect on physical performance,indicators of knee injury and blood biochemical of fatigue post-exercise.?2?CWI partly play a role in the recovery of physical performance,function of knee joint and blood biochemical indicators of fatigue post-exercise.However,its effects on blood lactate remove,alleviated muscle pain and other facts were behind CWT.?3?Basically,HWI didn't play an positive role in physical performance,indicators of knee injury and blood biochemical indicators of fatigue post-exercise.