Effects of combined cold-water immersion and Swedish massage on muscle strength, fatigue, blood lactate levels, and exercise performance in male team sport athletes

Abstract

Background: Rapid recovery from intense training and competition with short duration between events is a crucial component for regaining maximum performance in team sport athletes. This study aimed to examine the effects of combined cold-water immersion (CWI) and Swedish massage on muscle strength, fatigue, blood lactate, and exercise performance after exercise-induced fatigue in male team sport athletes. Materials and Methods: A randomised crossover design was used with eight male participants. Each participant completed the exercise-induced fatigue protocol and underwent three interventions at one-week intervals: combined CWI with Swedish massage (COMB), CWI alone, and control condition (CON). Muscle strength, blood lactate, perceived fatigue, jump height, and 20-meter sprint time were measured at baseline, immediately post-exercise, and 24 h post-intervention. A handheld dynamometer and a Lactate Pro 2 with a strip were assessed for muscle strength and blood lactate levels. The statistical analysis was using the Two way-repeated measure (ANOVA). Results: COMB significantly decreased fatigue and blood lactate level and improved the 20-meter sprint time compared with CWI and CON 24 h post-intervention (p<0.05). At 24 h post-intervention, a significant difference in quadriceps muscle strength was observed between the COMB and CON (p<0.001); CWI and CON (p<0.001) without a significant difference between CWI and COMB interventions. Conclusion: After exercise-induced fatigue, COMB promoted the recovery of all parameters to baseline levels within 24 h. This effect was particularly observed for fatigue, blood lactate levels, and the 20-meter sprint time, which were significantly better in the COMB group than in the CWI and CON groups. Therefore, team sports professionals can apply COMB after training or competition to enhance athletes’ recovery.