Multiple cryosauna sessions for post-exercise recovery of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS): a randomized control trial.

The main goal was to investigate the effectiveness of cryosauna in preventing the development of delayed onset muscle soreness and to analyze the regenerative changes within muscles after acute fatigue-induced exercises. Thirty-one volunteers were assigned into two groups: 1) an intervention group that participated in cryostimulation after fatigue-induced exercise protocol (CRYO, n = 16) and a control group that performed fatigue-induced exercise protocol, but without any intervention (CONT, n = 15). Main outcome measures include at baseline: blood sample testing (leukocyte content, myoglobin concentration, and creatine kinase activity) and muscle stiffness of lower extremity; immediately after (stiffness), and 24-48-72-96 h post-exercise (blood samples and stiffness). Both groups performed an exercise-induced muscle damage protocol based on repeated countermovement jumps (10 sets, 10 repetitions). The CRYO group underwent a cryosauna (temperature: -110°C, time: 1.5 min per session) intervention during four sessions (i.e., immediately after, 24-48-72 h post-exercise). Leukocyte content was significantly greater 24-48-72 h after exercise in CONT, compared with the CRYO group (p ≤ 0.05 for all), while creatine kinase activity was greater 24-48-96 h in CONT, compared with the CRYO group (p ≤ 0.05 for all). Muscle stiffness increased significantly in rectus femoris, tibialis anterior, and fibula muscle after 48 h post-exercise (p ≤ 0.05 for all), as well as in tibialis anterior and fibula after 72 h post-exercise (p ≤ 0.05 for all) in the CRYO group. Multiple cryosauna was an effective recovery strategy that reduced blood biomarkers and muscle stiffness after exercise-induced muscle damage. Moreover, the development of delayed onset muscle soreness, expressed by a greater muscle stiffness post-exercise, was attenuated to the first 48 h.

Eccentric Exercise Reduces Upper Trapezius Muscle Stiffness Assessed by Shear Wave Elastography and Myotonometry.

In this study, we tested the hypotheses that unaccustomed eccentric exercise (ECC) would reduce the elastic modulus and dynamic stiffness of the upper trapezius muscle and that these changes would correlate with increases in muscle thickness, reflecting muscle edema. Shear wave elastography was used to measure elastic modulus, dynamic stiffness was assessed using myotonometry, and muscle thickness was measured using ultrasonography. All measurements were performed at four locations over the upper trapezius before and 24 h after a single bout of ECC. Fourteen healthy participants (11 males and 3 females; 23.2 ± 3.0 years; height 175.1 ± 10.4 cm; body mass 73.8 ± 11.3 kg) took part in the study. Overall, ECC resulted in decreased elastic modulus (from 45.8 ± 1.6 to 39.4 ± 1.2 kPa, p < 0.01) and dynamic muscle stiffness (from 369.0 ± 7.3 to 302.6 ± 6.0 N/m, p < 0.01). Additionally, ECC resulted in increased muscle thickness (from 6.9 ± 0.4 to 7.3 ± 0.4 mm, p < 0.01). Spatial changes (across the four locations) were found for elastic modulus, stiffness and thickness. No significant correlations were found between changes in measures of muscle stiffness, or between changes in stiffness and changes in thickness. In conclusion, the present pilot study showed that ECC altered biomechanical muscle properties, reflected by decreased elastic modulus and dynamic muscle stiffness 24 h after ECC.

Effects of High-Velocity Strength Training on Movement Velocity and Strength Endurance in Experienced Powerlifters with Cerebral Palsy.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 6-week high-velocity strength training (HVST) intervention on movement velocity and strength endurance in experienced powerlifters with cerebral palsy (CP). Eleven experienced powerlifters with CP and seven from a control group (CON), were subjected to 6-week HVST. An assessment of movement velocity and strength endurance was conducted one week before (T1) and one week after (T2) the 6-week training intervention. During testing, athletes performed a maximum number of bench press repetitions possible within 5 sets of 15 s each, with 1-min passive rest intervals in-between. The indicator of movement velocity was the weight pressed in the first 5 s (5sW) in all performed sets. Strength endurance was described by the total weight (TW) pressed during the test. 5sW in T2 was significantly higher as compared with T1 in the CP group only (T1 928.9 ± 342.9 kg vs. T2 1007.3 ± 324.6 kg; p = 0.016). TW in T2 was significantly higher as compared with T1, both in the CP group (T1 2550.5 ± 843.9 kg vs. T2 2809.8 ± 981.3 kg; p < 0.001) and in the CON group (T1 2300.7 ± 845.1 kg vs. T2 2468.9 ± 890.1 kg; p = 0.049). A 6-week program of HVST increased movement velocity in resistance trained CP athletes. The gains of strength endurance were observed in both groups.

Practical Use of the Navigate Pain Application for the Assessment of the Area, Location, and Frequency of the Pain Location in Young Soccer Goalkeepers.

Next to winning, minimizing injuries during training and matches is one of the primary goals of professional team sports games. Soreness and pain can be early indicators and risk factors for acute or long-term injuries. Monitoring pain intensity and duration, as well as potential sources, are useful for planning practices and can be effective means for preventing injury. The aim of this study was to assess the areas and locations of pain in young soccer goalkeepers during a training camp, and to differentiate the area and frequency between pain arising from the muscles (MP), joints (JP), or as a result of an impact (IP). Recordings of the MP, JP, and IP location along with the area were performed using digital body mapping software (Navigate Pain Android app, Aalborg University, Denmark) installed on a tablet personal computer at the end of each training day across a 5-day training camp. There was a significant difference in the area between the three types of pain (p < 0.001). The post hoc analysis revealed statistically significant differences between the pixel areas of IP versus JP (p < 0.001), IP versus MP (p < 0.001), and JP versus MP (p < 0.001). There was no significant time-effect for the IP area between 1-5 days of training (p = 0.610), neither for MP (p = 0.118) or JP (p = 0.797) and no significant difference for all three pain areas between the front and the back side of the body. The body regions most often reported for MP were thighs, while for JP they were groin and hips, and for IP the hips, shoulders, and forearms were most frequently indicated. This is the first study to map and report the pain distribution associated with training across a 5-day training camp in soccer goalkeepers, and these findings emphasize the value of using digital pain drawings clinically as well as for monitoring the health status of soccer players.

Shoulder tendon characteristics in disabled swimmers in high functional classes - Preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize disabled swimmers in comparison to an able-bodied swimmers for (1) supraspinatus tendon thickness, (2) subacromial space and (3) occupation ratio. DESIGN: Cross-Sectional Study. SETTING: Research laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Disabled swimmers with upper (DSw-Upper) (n = 8) and lower (DSw-Lower) (n = 7) extremity disorders. The DSw-Upper were classified in sports class S7-S8, while DSw-Lower in S9-S10. The control group had 15 able-bodied swimmers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Ultrasound images of (1) supraspinatus tendon in short axis and long axis, (2) subacromial space, and (3) occupation ratio. RESULTS: A thicker supraspinatus tendon in short axis was observed in DSw-Upper versus C-Sw (p = 0.012) and DSw-Upper versus DSw-Lower (p = 0.018); and in long axis for DSw-Upper versus CSw (p = 0.0001), and DSw-Upper versus DSw-Lower (p = 0.002). There was a greater occupation ratio in DSw-Upper versus DSw-Lower in short axis (p = 0.013) and long axis (p = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed a thicker supraspinatus tendon and greater occupation ratio with the tendon occupying more of the subacromial space that may predispose upper extremity disabled swimmers to tendon disorders such as subacromial impingement syndrome. Ultrasound examination can be used to assess shoulder tendon characteristics and the relationship to the subacromial space, to determine potential for injury and training load monitoring.

Changes in Muscle Stiffness of the Trapezius Muscle After Application of Ischemic Compression into Myofascial Trigger Points in Professional Basketball Players.

The study aimed to assess the effects of compression trigger point therapy on the stiffness of the trapezius muscle in professional basketball players (Part A), and the reliability of the MyotonPRO device in clinical evaluation of athletes (Part B). Twelve professional basketball players participated in Part A of the study (mean age: 19.8 ± 2.4 years, body height 197 ± 8.2 cm, body mass: 91.8 ± 11.8 kg), with unilateral neck or shoulder pain at the dominant side. Part B tested twelve right-handed male athletes (mean ± SD; age: 20.4 ± 1.2 years; body height: 178.6 ± 7.7 cm; body mass: 73.2 ± 12.6 kg). Stiffness measurements were obtained directly before and after a single session trigger point compression therapy. Measurements were performed bilaterally over 5 points covering the trapezius muscle. The effects were evaluated using a full-factorial repeated measure ANOVA and the Bonferroni post-hoc test for equal variance. A p-value < .05 was considered significant. The RM ANOVA revealed a significant decrease in muscle stiffness for the upper trapezius muscle. Specifically, muscle stiffness decreased from 243.7 ± 30.5 to 215.0 ± 48.5 N/m (11.8%), (p = .008) (Part A). The test-retest relative reliability of trapezius muscle stiffness was found to be high (ICC from 0.821 to 0.913 for measurement points). The average SEM was 23.59 N/m and the MDC 65.34 N/m, respectively (Part B). The present study showed that a single session of compression trigger point therapy can be used to significantly decrease the stiffness of the upper trapezius among professional basketball players.