The Effect of Thermotherapy on Recovery and Performance (Cryotherapy)

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02506283
• Recruitment Status: Completed
• First Posted: July 23, 2015
• Last Update Posted: August 8, 2019
• Sponsor: University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
• Collaborators: THIM - die internationale Hochschule für Physiotherapie; Vrije Universiteit Brussel; Universiteit Antwerpen
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland

Study Description

Brief Summary:

This study investigates the effects of cooling on the recovery and performance characteristic in young healthy subjects. The study is divided in two projects:

Project A: investigates the effects of 20 min. post-exercise cooling on vertical jump performance and delayed onset muscle soreness and rated perceived exertion.

Project B: investigates the effects of 20 min. pre-exercise cooling on maximal voluntary contraction of the right M. quadriceps femoris and delayed onset muscle soreness and rated perceived exertion.

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Healthy	Device: Zamar Therapy CT clinic	Not Applicable

Detailed Description:

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of a 20 min. external cooling application (+8°C ) versus a external thermo neutral application (+32°C) up to 72 hours post application.

The study is divided in two projects:

Project A: This study is focusing on the recovery process after a max. jump performance (3x30 counter movement jumps). Directly after the exercise subjects receive a cooling or thermo-neutral application. Recovery characteristics measured by vertical jump performance (objective) and delayed onset muscle soreness and rated perceived exertion (subjective) are measured in function of time up to 72 hours post cooling intervention.

Project B: This study is focusing on the effect of 20 min. cooling or thermo-neutral application on the M. quadriceps femoris performance (MVC). After the thermo-application, the 60% endurance MVC is measured by means of surface EMG (OT Bioelettronica 10-750 Hz) in a ergometer chair 90° degrees knee flexion (Cor 1 Bioelettronica). Muscle conduction velocity, MVC (objective), delayed onset muscle soreness and rated perceived exertion (subjective) are measured in function of time up to 72 hours post thermo-application.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 40 participants
• Allocation: Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple (Participant, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: The Effect of Cryotherapy on Recovery and Performance: A Randomized Controlled Double Blind Trial
• Study Start Date: May 2015
• Actual Primary Completion Date: November 2018
• Actual Study Completion Date: May 2019

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: cooling intervention; subjects in this study receive a single pre-exercise (3x MVC) or post-exercise intervention (3x 30 counter movement jumps), consisting of an external cooling application (Zamar Therapy CT clinic) applied to both thighs. Both interventions have a duration of 20 minutes and a temperature of 8°C	Device: Zamar Therapy CT clinic; Zamar Therapy is a certified medical product (directive 93/42/EEC and ISO 134 85:2012) (www.zamarmedical.com)
Sham Comparator: thermoneutral intervention; subjects in the control group receive a single pre-exercise (3x MVC) or post-exercise (3x 30 counter movement jumps) sham intervention, consisting of a 20 minute external thermoneutral application (Zamar Therapy CT clinic) applied to both thighs. Both sham interventions have a duration of 20 minutes and a temperature of 32°C.	Device: Zamar Therapy CT clinic; Zamar Therapy is a certified medical product (directive 93/42/EEC and ISO 134 85:2012) (www.zamarmedical.com)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. The effect of a 20 minute cryotherapy application on vertical jump performance 24 hours post cold application [ Time Frame: 0-24hours post cold application ]
   n= 20 subjects for objective recovery. objective recovery: vertical jump performance (best of three in cm. on just jump plate) 24 hours post cold application is evaluated
2. The effect of a 20 minute cryotherapy application on vertical jump performance 48 hours post cold application [ Time Frame: 24-48 hours post cold application ]
   n= 20 subjects for objective recovery. objective recovery: vertical jump performance (best of three in cm. on just jump plate) 48 hours post cold application is evaluated
3. The effect of a 20 minute cryotherapy application on vertical jump performance 72 hours post cold application [ Time Frame: 48-72 hours post cold application ]
   n= 20 subjects for objective recovery. objective recovery: vertical jump performance (best of three in cm. on just jump plate) 72 hours post cold application is evaluated
4. The effect of a 20 minute cryotherapy application on maximum voluntary contraction 24 hours post cold application [ Time Frame: 0-24 hours post cold application ]
   n= 20 subjects for objective performance objective performance: maximum voluntary contraction (best of three in Kg) on ergometer chair (Cor1Bioelectronica) and surface EMG (OT Bioellectronica) 24 hours post cold application is evaluated
5. The effect of a 20 minute cryotherapy application on maximum voluntary contraction 48 hours post cold application [ Time Frame: 24-48 hours post cold application ]
   n= 20 subjects for objective performance objective performance: maximum voluntary contraction (best of three in Kg) on ergometer chair (Cor1Bioelectronica) and surface EMG (OT Bioellectronica) 48 hours post cold application is evaluated
6. The effect of a 20 minute cryotherapy application on maximum voluntary 72 hours post cold application [ Time Frame: 48-72 hours post cold application ]
   n= 20 subjects for objective performance objective performance: maximum voluntary contraction (best of three in Kg) on ergometer chair (Cor1Bioelectronica) and surface EMG (OT Bioellectronica) 72 hours post cold application is evaluated

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. The effect of a 20 minute cryotherapy application on delayed onset muscle soreness 24 hours post cold application [ Time Frame: 0-24 hours post cold application ]
   n= 20 subjects for subjective recovery. subjective recovery: delayed onset muscle soreness (V.A.S 0-10 cm) 24 hours post cold application is evaluated
2. The effect of a 20 minute cryotherapy application on delayed onset muscle soreness 48 hours post cold application [ Time Frame: 24-48 hours post cold application ]
   n= 20 subjects for subjective recovery. subjective recovery: delayed onset muscle soreness (V.A.S 0-10 cm) 48 hours post cold application is evaluated
3. The effect of a 20 minute cryotherapy application on delayed onset muscle 72 hours post cold application [ Time Frame: 48-72 hours post cold application ]
   n= 20 subjects for subjective recovery. subjective recovery: delayed onset muscle soreness (V.A.S 0-10 cm) 72 hours post cold application is evaluated
4. The effect of a 20 minute cryotherapy application on rated perceived exertion 24 hours post cold application [ Time Frame: 0-24 hours post cold application ]
   n= 20 subjects for subjective recovery. subjective recovery: rated perceived exertion (Borg scale 6-20) 24 hours post cold application is evaluated
5. The effect of a 20 minute cryotherapy application on rated perceived exertion 48 hours post cold application [ Time Frame: 24-48 hours post cold application ]
   n= 20 subjects for subjective recovery. subjective recovery: rated perceived exertion (Borg scale 6-20) 48 hours post cold application is evaluated
6. The effect of a 20 minute cryotherapy application on rated perceived exertion 72 hours post cold application [ Time Frame: 48-72 hours post cold application ]
   n= 20 subjects for subjective recovery. subjective recovery: rated perceived exertion (Borg scale 6-20) 72 hours post cold application is evaluated

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years to 30 Years (Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• only healthy young subjects 18-30 years
• no musculoskeletal surgery in trunk and lower extremities
• injury history in trunk and lower extremity for more than one year
• subjects taking anticonceptive medication are allowed to participate

Exclusion Criteria:

• actual injuries or injuries for less than one year in trunk and /or lower extremities
• injury history in trunk and lower extremity for more than one year with complaints
• anxiety of cooling
• subjects on medication
• pace maker
• cardiovascular disease
• pregnancy
• skeletal problems
• appendectomy for less than two years
• Morbus Raynaud syndrome

Contacts and Locations

Locations

Switzerland

SUPSI

Landquart, GR, Switzerland, CH-7302

Sponsors and Collaborators

University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland

THIM - die internationale Hochschule für Physiotherapie

Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Universiteit Antwerpen

Investigators

• Principal Investigator: Ron Clijsen, PhD; SUPSI Landquart

More Information

Additional Information:

Zamar thermotherapy 

Publications of Results:

Ascensao A, Leite M, Rebelo AN, Magalhaes S, Magalhaes J. Effects of cold water immersion on the recovery of physical performance and muscle damage following a one-off soccer match. J Sports Sci. 2011 Feb;29(3):217-25. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2010.526132.

Banfi G, Lombardi G, Colombini A, Melegati G. Whole-body cryotherapy in athletes. Sports Med. 2010 Jun 1;40(6):509-17. doi: 10.2165/11531940-000000000-00000.

Barnett A. Using recovery modalities between training sessions in elite athletes: does it help? Sports Med. 2006;36(9):781-96. doi: 10.2165/00007256-200636090-00005.

Pointon M, Duffield R, Cannon J, Marino FE. Cold application for neuromuscular recovery following intense lower-body exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2011 Dec;111(12):2977-86. doi: 10.1007/s00421-011-1924-1. Epub 2011 Mar 29.

Wegmann M, Faude O, Poppendieck W, Hecksteden A, Frohlich M, Meyer T. Pre-cooling and sports performance: a meta-analytical review. Sports Med. 2012 Jul 1;42(7):545-64. doi: 10.2165/11630550-000000000-00000.

White GE, Wells GD. Cold-water immersion and other forms of cryotherapy: physiological changes potentially affecting recovery from high-intensity exercise. Extrem Physiol Med. 2013 Sep 1;2(1):26. doi: 10.1186/2046-7648-2-26.

Other Publications:

Bleakley C, McDonough S, Gardner E, Baxter GD, Hopkins JT, Davison GW. Cold-water immersion (cryotherapy) for preventing and treating muscle soreness after exercise. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Feb 15;2012(2):CD008262. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008262.pub2.

Ross ML, Garvican LA, Jeacocke NA, Laursen PB, Abbiss CR, Martin DT, Burke LM. Novel precooling strategy enhances time trial cycling in the heat. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011 Jan;43(1):123-33. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181e93210.

• Responsible Party: University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02506283
• Other Study ID Numbers: KEK-ZH-Nr.2015-0113
• First Posted: July 23, 2015
• Last Update Posted: August 8, 2019
• Last Verified: October 2017

Keywords provided by University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland:

cryotherapy; recovery; athletic performance; maximum voluntary contraction; rated perceived exertion; delayed onset muscle soreness; jump performance