Comparison of sport massage and combination of cold water immersion with sport massage on decrease of blood lactic acid level

Abstract

Recovery is an attempt to reduce blood lactic acid levels and make the body recover after physical exercise. The effect of cold water immersion (15°C) and sport massage combined with decreasing blood lactic acid level is still unknown. The subjects assigned to 3 groups, K1 group for recovery sport massage, K2 recovery group for combination of cold water immersion (15°C) with sport massage and K3 control group. Both groups performed sub-maximal physical exercise by doing a fast walk on the treadmill to reach (80% HRM) and then maintained for 5 minutes, followed by recovery process. ANOVA test of lactic acid level post treatment which shows there was a significant difference in the decrease of lactic acid level. The paired t-test of each group showed significant results in sports massage group (p = 0,001), combination cold water immersion (15°C) with sport massage group (p = 0,000) and a control group (p = 0,002). Recovery by soaking in contrasting waters, which result in alternating vasoconstriction and vasodilation, is considered to act in a manner similar to muscle pumping (vaso-pumping). Recovery by means of sport massage and combination of cold water immersion (15°C) with sport massage can decrease blood lactic acid levels.