Effect of cryotherapy on muscle recovery and inflammation following a bout of damaging exercise

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of cryotherapy on the inflammatory response to muscle-damaging exercise using a randomized trial. Twenty recreationally active males completed a 40-min run at a -10% grade to induce muscle damage. Ten of the subjects were immersed in a 5°C ice bath for 20min and the other ten served as controls. Knee extensor peak torque, soreness rating, and thigh circumference were obtained pre- and post-run, and 1, 6, 24, 48, and 72h post-run. Blood samples were obtained pre- and post-run, and 1, 6 and 24h post-run for assay of plasma chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2). Peak torque decreased from 270±57 Nm at baseline to 253±65 Nm post-run and increased to 295±68Nm by 72h post-run with no differences between groups (p=0.491). Soreness rating increased from 3.6±6.0mm out of 100mm at baseline to 47.4±28.2mm post-run and remained elevated at all time points with no differences between groups (p=0.696). CCL2 concentrations increased from 116±31pgmL(-1) at baseline to 293±109pgmL(-1) at 6h post-run (control) and from 100±27pgmL(-1) at baseline to 208±71pgmL(-1) at 6h post-run (cryotherapy). The difference between groups was not significant (p=0.116), but there was a trend for lower CCL2 in the cryotherapy group at 6h (p=0.102), though this measure was highly variable. In conclusion, 20min of cryotherapy was ineffective in attenuating the strength decrement and soreness seen after muscle-damaging exercise, but may have mitigated the rise in plasma CCL2 concentration. These results do not support the use of cryotherapy during recovery.