Comparison of effects of active recovery and deep water running on soccer players' indices of muscular damage

Abstract

Background: The process of recovery plays a significant role in sustaining athletic performance and preventing exhaustion among players. Active recovery (AR) is generally accepted as a series of light intrinsic activity after intense activities. It is believed that this type of recovery improves athletes’ recovery process. On the other hand, among different recovery methods, recovery in water in different temperatures is highly reputed among athletes. Aims and Objectives: The present research was aimed at comparison of effects of AR and deep water running (DWR) on serum levels of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and aspartate aminotransferases (AST) as indices of muscular damage subsequent to a simulated soccer game among 19-21-year-old players of Ahwaz Naft soccer team present in premier league. Materials and Methods: 18 players of Naft soccer team were randomly assigned to either of the two 9 membered groups of AR and DWR. Afterward, the aforementioned participants took part in a 90 min (including two 45 min rounds of random activity) simulated soccer activity that was primarily designed by Bangsbow and modified by Bishop et al. After the activity, one group was administered an AR while the other was administered DWR recovery. To compare the changes of variables in the aforementioned groups, the statistical method of mixed variance analysis among individuals was used. Results: The difference between changes of variables between the groups of AR and DWR was not statistically significant (P = 0.541, P = 115 and P = 748, respectively, for LDH, CK, and AST). Conclusion: It seems that there is no statistically significant difference between the effects of AR and DWR recovery on muscular damages of soccer players after a period of playing. However, still more research is required in this regard.