EFFECT OF AIR PULSE CRYOTHERAPY WITH CRYO 6® ON DELAYED ONSET MUSCLE SORENESS AFTER ECCENTRIC EXERCISE OF ELBOW FLEXORS.

Abstract

     The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of cryotherapy on recovery of DOMS. Twenty-eight healthy subjects aged 21. 38 ± 1. 05 years were equally randomized into two groups; the cryotherapy group (CRYO) and control group (CONT). Participants performed 3 sets of 20 maximal isokinetic eccentric contractions of elbow flexors. The CRYO group received an air pulsed cryotherapy (-30 0C) treatment after exercise induction, and the CONT group only rest in supine position. Visual analogue scale ( VAS) ,circumferences, range of motion of active elbow extension ( ROM-AE) , range of motion of passive elbow extension (ROM-PE) and isometric peak torque (IPT) were evaluated at baseline, immediately after exercise, at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours post-exercise. The CRYO group demonstrated significantly lesser on muscle soreness at 24-96 hours, significantly lesser on circumference at 48-96 hours post-exercise and significantly increased in ROM-AE, ROM-PE than that of the control group (p < 0.01), but no significant differences between groups on IPT (p> 0.05). These results demonstrated that air pulsed cryotherapy could reduce muscle soreness, swelling and improve elbow range of motion following eccentric exercise-induce DOMS. This suggests potential clinical application for treatment of DOMS.

Keywords: Delayed onset muscle soreness / Cryotherapy / Eccentric exercise