Ice Baths and Cyrochambers

October 12, 2012

Part 3 of the Recovery Strategy Series As described in Part I, intensive exercise can have a significant impact on sporting performance reducing muscle function up to 20% over several days post exercise. It also causes muscles soreness, reduced flexibility and a reduction in strength and power. Immersing the body in a bath of cold water (cold water immersion) is a frequently used and popular way of recovery post exercise and as a result there has been a lot of scientific research into this area as an aide to improving recovery rates.

A recent review of cold water immersion (CWI) research by the British Journal of Sports and Exercise Medicine found that CWI has been found to be effective at reducing the rates of muscle soreness 24 and 48 hours after high intensity exercise for 60% of those taking part in the studies. The average decrease in the perception of soreness was 16%.

They found that cold water immersions was not effective at recovering muscles strength post exercise but it more effective in recovery of muscle power compared to doing nothing at all. In another study on 12 cyclists who performed five consecutive days of exercise including time trials and sprints, those who underwent CWI after each session had a higher average power output across the 5 days than those undergoing hot baths or no recovery therapy.

The exact mechanism in how CWI works is not known. Immersing the body in cold water (e.g. 10 minutes at 10?C or 15mins at 15?C) is thought to reduce blood flow in the muscle and surrounding tissue reducing inflammation caused by the strenuous exercise. This would help to reduce swelling which eases the perception of soreness. The reduction in muscle temperature may also slow down the effect of enzymes activated when muscle damage occurs.

If doing CWI at home for legs post running or cycling wear a warm top and hat to keep the upper body warm while immersing the legs. CWI may not be suitable for diabetics or those with circulatory problems who should check with a Doctor before doing it. Contrast water therapy is another water based therapy that has been found to be effective as a recovery strategy. This involves immersion for 1 minute in cold water (15?C), followed by 1 minute in 38?C water and each cycle is repeated 14 times. Harder to do at home unless you have two baths!

Cryochambers

Cryotherapy was front page news when Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy were sent to Poland for cyrotherapy after injury in 2005. The therapy consists of exposure to very cold air that is maintained at -110°C to -140°C in special temperature-controlled cryochambers, generally for 2 minutes. Skin temperature can drop to 5-12°.

Chyrotherapy process involves the client entering the cryotherapy unit which consists of two chambers of dry cold air, one at -60 and the other at -100?C. To prevent frostbite the user wears a hat, gloves, swimming trunks and socks inside the chamber.

The area of research on cyrochambers in sport is new and to date there has been little evidence to show that they work for muscle recovery and injuries. In 2011 University of Limerick published a review of the scientific evidence carried out by numerous research centers on chyrochambers and concluded that while some athletes may report less muscle soreness after using the chamber it does not speed up the rate of repair of muscle damage.

Despite the lack of evidence, the use of chyrochambers is growing in sport with many sports people praising it. On the Tour De France in 2010 Nicolas Roche used ice baths as a recovery method, but in 2011 cyrochambers from their sponsor were used. He describes the process in his blog “Every morning and evening I strip down to my boxers, socks, and a pair of gloves and step into the portable chamber for three minutes. It’s a bit tingly to begin with but with the temperature inside set at minus 150C , the teeth soon start to chatter and the shivers kick in. By the time it’s over, it’s bloody freezing”

References

Costello J, Algar L, Donnelly A. Effects of Whole-body Cyrotherapy (-110°C) on Proprioception and Indices of Muscle Damage. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports 2011
Leeder J, Gissane C, Van Someren K, Gregson W, Howatson G. Cold Water Immersion and Recovery from Strenuous Exercise: a meta-analysis. British Journal of Sports Medicine 2012 46: 233-240
Vaile J, Halson S, Gill N, Dawson B. Effect of Hydrotherapy on the Signs and Symptoms of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness. European Journal of Applied Physiology 2008 102:477-455
Vaile J, Halson S, Gill N, Dawson B. Effect of Hydrotherapy on Recovery from Fatigue. International Journal of Sports Medicine 2008 29:539-544

The exact mechanism in how CWI works is not known. Immersing the body in cold water (e.g. 10 minutes at 10C or 15mins at 15C) is thought to reduce blood flow in the muscle and surrounding tissue reducing inflammation caused by the strenuous exercise. This would help to reduce swelling which eases the perception of soreness. The reduction in muscle temperature may also slow down the effect of enzymes activated when muscle damage occurs.

If doing CWI at home for legs post running or cycling wear a warm top and hat to keep the upper body warm while immersing the legs. CWI may not be suitable for diabetics or those with circulatory problems who should check with a Doctor before doing it. Contrast water therapy is another water based therapy that has been found to be effective as a recovery strategy. This involves immersion for 1 minute in cold water (15C), followed by 1 minute in 38C water and each cycle is repeated 14 times. Harder to do at home unless you have two baths!

Cryochambers

Chyrotherapy process involves the client entering the cryotherapy unit which consists of two chambers of dry cold air, one at -60 and the other at -100C. To prevent frostbite the user wears a hat, gloves, swimming trunks and socks inside the chamber.

References