The Effects Of Contrast With Compression Therapy On Muscle Recovery Post Exercise

Abstract

Intense eccentric exercise causes muscle damage that leads to a decrease in subsequent performance. Accelerating muscle recovery between bouts of exercise minimizes the risk of injury and is essential for optimal athletic competitive performance. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if the contrast with compression (CwC) therapy proprietary device by Solid State Inc was able to improve muscle recovery post intense eccentric exercise. METHODS: Ten physically active men (age = 21.3+2.1 years; height = 182 +8.5cms; weight = 88 + 19.5kg; body fat = 17.2+7%) completed two separate single-arm elbow flexor workouts on an isokinetic dynamometer. After one workout each participant received contrast with compression (CwC) therapy immediately after, 24h and 48h after the workout. After the other workout the same person received no treatment(CON). Post-exercise recovery of selected characteristics were measured at 1h, 24h, 48h and 72h. Comparisons were made between the CwC and CON groups using a Mixed Model ANOVA with repeated measures to identify time effects and an ANCOVA was used to identify interaction effects. A Bonferroni post-hoc test was used to assess timepoint differences in between interventions in recovery post eccentric exercise. A p≤0.05 was used for all analysis. RESULTS: CwC therapy post exercise resulted in a significantly faster recovery rate of strength and power to baseline levels (p=0.00) as well as a greater recovery of overall relative strength (p=0.004). Treatment with CwC significantly suppressed the post-exercise inflammatory response (p=0.05) and significantly reduced the secondary muscle damage response as measured by levels of Creatine Kinase post exercise. CwC therapy also resulted in a significantly quicker recovery of the maximal elbow flexion range of motion (p=0.00) within the hour post exercise. Lastly, participants experienced significantly less soreness 48 hours and 72 hours post-exercise with CwC therapy. CONCLUSION: Contrast with compression therapy significantly increases the recovery rate of muscle strength and power post eccentric exercise. CwC is also effective at reducing exercise associated muscle damage, delayed onset muscle soreness and mitigates the loss of range of motion post intense exercise.