INTRODUCTION:
Various recovery methods are used to prevent or minimize fatigue and muscle soreness
that occur after exercise. One of these methods, Whole-Body Cryotherapy (WBC),
involves short-term exposure to cold air in a specially designed chamber, and it has been
suggested as an effective intervention for post-exercise recovery. The aim of this study
was to determine the effect of WBC on the reduction in muscle strength following
exercise-induced fatigue
METHODS:
The study was conducted with a crossover design in which each
participant underwent two different recovery methods on separate days. Thirty physically
active and healthy male participants (age: 20.77 ± 1.61 years, weight: 80.63 ± 10.75 kg,
height: 180.37 ± 4.57 cm) were included. At baseline, demographic information was
collected, and quadriceps and hamstring muscles were assessed using an isokinetic
dynamometer. After inducing fatigue through treadmill running, participants completed
either WBC or passive rest (PR) protocols on separate days. Thirty minutes after the
intervention, quadriceps and hamstring strength and endurance parameters were
reassessed at angular velocities of 60°/s and 240°/s using the isokinetic dynamometer
RESULTS:
The results demonstrated that,
at 60°/s angular velocity, quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength parameters (PT and
PT-BW) were significantly higher following WBC compared to PR in both dominant and
non-dominant extremities (p<0.05). In contrast, no significant differences were observed
between the two recovery methods at 240°/s angular velocity (p>0.05).
CONCLUSION:
These findings
suggest that WBC may be a more effective recovery method than PR in preserving muscle
strength during the acute recovery period after aerobic exercise, particularly at lower
angular velocities.