ECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH25
INTRODUCTION: Recovery from intense physical exertion is essential for athletes to maintain performance and prevent overtraining or injuries. Various active and passive recovery methods, such as hydrotherapy, massage, compression garments, and stretching, aim to reduce fatigue and muscle soreness. However, the optimal application of these strategies remains unclear, and practical guidelines for athletes and coaches are still debated. METHODS: The review analyzes 120 studies from peer-reviewed journals indexed in PubMed, Clarivate Analytics, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and the Cochrane Library, published over the last five years, with a focus on high-performance sports research. Studies include randomized controlled trials (RCTs), crossover trials, case-control, cohort, and longitudinal studies to ensure methodological rigor. Active recovery methods such as stretching and low-intensity exercise are compared with passive strategies like cold-water immersion (CWI), sleep, relaxation techniques, and nutrition. All included studies provide practical recovery guidelines. RESULTS: Active recovery timing and type significantly influence performance and injury prevention. Prolonged static stretching (>60s per muscle) can impair strength, while dynamic stretching (20–30s) may offer benefits. Passive recovery methods, such as CWI, affect muscle recovery and nerve function by altering ion exchange, slowing action potential generation, and reducing contraction speed. Cryotherapy, including CWI and ice packs, provides small but consistent benefits 48–96 hours post-exercise. CONCLUSION: Evidence-based recommendations highlight active recovery techniques, like low-intensity exercises, for improving blood flow, lactate clearance, and endurance. Passive methods, including massage, compression garments, and water immersion, effectively reduce fatigue and muscle soreness. Recovery strategies should be tailored to individual needs, sport-specific demands, and exercise intensity. Further research is needed to refine long-term guidelines for athletic recovery.
Read CV Oana Ruxandra VuinovECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH25
INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the effect of the FIFA+ warm up program on knee instability and motor performance in youth soccer players METHODS: Thirty youth soccer players were divided into two groups: the experimental group (FIFA+) performed the FIFA+ program for 10 weeks, while the control group followed their usual warm-up routine. Dynamic knee valgus (DKV) and squat depth were assessed using a Microsoft Azure Kinect camera and dynaknee software. Maximal isometric muscle force was measured with a dynamometer. The Y Balance test was used to evaluate dynamic balance, while a countermovement jump test assessed lower limb power. The knee range of motion was measured with a goniometer, and the T-test was used to evaluate agility RESULTS: After the intervention, the FIFA+ group showed a significant decrease in DKV and squat depth (p < 0.01), while the control group showed no significant changes (p > 0.01). Both groups improved in motor performance, with slight progress noted in the FIFA+ group. However, neither group demonstrated significant improvement in dynamic balance (p > 0.01) CONCLUSION: While the FIFA+ program may not substantially enhance overall motor performance or match the effectiveness of other training regimens, it shows potential for addressing biomechanical deficiencies and reducing the risk of injuries, particularly those related to dynamic knee valgus.
Read CV Badis SoussiECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH25
INTRODUCTION: Massage is widely used in clinical and sports settings. However, it remains controversial whether massage decreases tissue stiffness (muscle and fascia). Some studies reported that massage decreased the stiffness of muscle (1) or deep fascia (2), but others reported no effect on the stiffness of muscle (3) or aponeurosis (2). In massage therapy, the fingers of the therapist apply mechanical stress to the muscle and fascia through the superficial tissues. This suggests that massage effects were affected by the thicknesses of superficial tissue covering the muscle and the muscle itself. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the acute effects of massage on muscle and fascia stiffness of the medial gastrocnemius (MG) and its fascia and their relationships with muscle thickness (MT) and subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT). METHODS: The participants were 14 healthy adults (8 males and 6 females). Massage was applied by a physical therapist with its intensity was subjectively standardized across participants as much as possible. No intervention was applied on another day as a control condition. The intervention period was 11 min [massage for 2 min × 4 sets with a 1 min interval). The shear modulus of MG, shear wave velocity of MG fascia, ankle joint dorsiflexion ROM, and passive torque were measured before (Pre), immediately after (Post1), and 30 min after (Post2) the intervention. The MT and SFT were measured using an ultrasound imaging device at Pre. Data were analyzed using the Friedman test, post hoc Wilcoxon signed-rank test with Bonferroni corrections, and Spearmans rank correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The shear modulus of MG was significantly increased from Pre to Post1 (+1.3 kPa [median difference], p = 0.011) in the massage condition, but not in the control condition. The main effect of the time was not significant for the ankle joint dorsiflexion ROM, passive torque, or the shear wave velocity of MG fascia in the massage or control conditions. Additionally, there were no significant correlations between the changes in the shear modulus of MG and MT (rho = −0.238, p = 0.413), SFT (rho = −0.253, p = 0.382) or MT+SFT (rho = −0.306, p = 0.288) in the massage condition. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that massage can increase muscle stiffness irrespective of MT and SFT, which is contrary to the prevailing belief. A possible explanation for the increase in shear modulus is inflammation (4) induced by massage. The present findings suggest that athletes and therapists should understand the possibility of an increase in muscle stiffness immediately after massage. References 1) Inami et al., J Bodyw Mov Ther., 2024 2) Crommert et al., Scand J Med Sci Sports., 2015 3) Ikeda et al., Med Sci Sports Exerc., 2019 4) Agten et al., AJR Am J Roentgenol., 2017
Read CV Ryo ItoECSS Paris 2023: CP-MH25