The Effects of Hot Water Immersion on Muscle Strength

Abstract

This investigation examined the effects of hot water immersion (44°C) on isokinetic knee extension peak torque, angle specific torque, angle of peak torque, time to peak torque, average power, total work, and isometric force on 10 physically active male college students. Isometric testing consisted of 5-sec isometric knee extension muscle actions at a 45° angle. Subjects performed each of three randomly assigned treatment sessions: a hot treatment (44°C), a thermal neutral treatment (35°C), and ambient room temperature treatment (21–23°C). Treatments lasted 45 min. For the hot and thermal neutral treatment both thighs were immersed in a whirlpool tank with moving water leveled to each subject's gluteal fold. No significant differences were observed for peak torque, total work, average power, angle of peak torque, angle-specific peak torque, time to peak torque, or isometric strength. The use of a 45-min hot water bath immersion prior to exercise does not significantly affect isokinetic or isometric strength, and therefore does not appear to elicit any positive or negative ergogenic effects.