Study finds deep cold no benefit for tired muscles

RESEARCHERS at the University of Limerick have found that placing injured athletes in deep cold is not an effective treatment in muscle recovery.

UL’s department of physical education and sport sciences published a paper yesterday which is the first to explore the effects of whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) on recovery from muscle soreness and on muscle function.

WBC has caused debate among elite athletes. It involves repeatedly exposing athletes to extreme cold with the aim of aiding muscle recovery.

Joseph Costello, a doctoral student and lead author on the paper, said: “WBC is colder than any temperatures ever recorded or reported on earth. It is currently being used by athletes and patients for various clinical and rehabilitative reasons.

“However, research into the area of [WBC] is extremely limited. This is the first study which has addressed WBC as a method of recovery following exercise induced muscle damage.

“In addition, this is also the first published study to assess the potential of WBC to reduce functional movement. Our findings indicate that WBC, administered 24 hours after strenuous exercise, is ineffective in alleviating muscle soreness or enhancing muscle force recovery. However, these results also indicate that WBC does not increase the risk of injury, as functional movement is maintained following exposure.”

Professor Alan Donnelly, co-author of the report, said cryotherapy had been used for decades. “However, the application of WBC has recently attracted much attention, with one athlete, Justin Gatlin ... experiencing frostbite following the treatment. This study shows that WBC is not an effective treatment for muscle recovery,” he said.