Thermal Sensations during a Partial-Body Cryostimulation Exposure in Elite Basketball Players

Partial-body cryostimulation does not impact peripheral microvascular responsiveness but reduces muscular metabolic O2 consumption (mV˙O2) at rest

This study aimed to investigate the effect of partial-body cryostimulation (PBC) on microvascular responsiveness and muscular metabolic O2 consumption rate (mV˙O2). Twenty healthy young adults (ten males and ten females) underwent a post-occlusive reactive hyperemia (PORH) test at the flexor digitorum superficialis area before and after a 3-min PBC session and a 3-min control session. Using near-infrared spectroscopy, occlusion and reperfusion slopes were calculated: oxyhemoglobin ([HbO2]) decrease rate ([HbO2] slope 1), deoxyhaemoglobin ([HHb]) increase rate ([HHb] slope 1), [HbO2] increase rate ([HbO2] slope 2), and [HHb] increase rate ([HHb] slope 2. Using HbO2 kinetics during the occlusion, mV˙O2 was also calculated to characterize myocytes' metabolic O2 consumption. HbO2 slope 1 value was lower after PBC than before PBC (-0.15 ± 0.08 vs -0.24 ± 0.11 s-1; respectively; P < 0.05) in male participants only. A lower [HHb] slope 1 was also observed after PBC compared to before PBC (0.18 ± 0.10 vs 0.24 ± 0.16 s-1; P < 0.05) with no interaction for sex categories. mV˙O2 was significantly lower after PBC than before (pre values 14.75 ± 3.94 vs 18.47 ± 5.73 μMO2Hb.s-1; respectively; P < 0.01) with no interaction between sex categories. No changes in the calculated slope 2 were observed. These findings suggest that a single session of PBC reduces the muscular metabolic O2 needs at rest; however, it does not alter the vascular ability to provide O2 to the myocytes.

In-Season Nutrition Strategies and Recovery Modalities to Enhance Recovery for Basketball Players: A Narrative Review

Basketball players face multiple challenges to in-season recovery. The purpose of this article is to review the literature on recovery modalities and nutritional strategies for basketball players and practical applications that can be incorporated throughout the season at various levels of competition. Sleep, protein, carbohydrate, and fluids should be the foundational components emphasized throughout the season for home and away games to promote recovery. Travel, whether by air or bus, poses nutritional and sleep challenges, therefore teams should be strategic about packing snacks and fluid options while on the road. Practitioners should also plan for meals at hotels and during air travel for their players. Basketball players should aim for a minimum of 8 h of sleep per night and be encouraged to get extra sleep during congested schedules since back-to back games, high workloads, and travel may negatively influence night-time sleep. Regular sleep monitoring, education, and feedback may aid in optimizing sleep in basketball players. In addition, incorporating consistent training times may be beneficial to reduce bed and wake time variability. Hydrotherapy, compression garments, and massage may also provide an effective recovery modality to incorporate post-competition. Future research, however, is warranted to understand the influence these modalities have on enhancing recovery in basketball players. Overall, a strategic well-rounded approach, encompassing both nutrition and recovery modality strategies, should be carefully considered and implemented with teams to support basketball players' recovery for training and competition throughout the season.

The Specific Judo Training Program Combined With the Whole Body Cryostimulation Induced an Increase of Serum Concentrations of Growth Factors and Changes in Amino Acid Profile in Professional Judokas

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a specific training program, supported by 10 sessions of whole body cryostimulation, on growth factors concentrations, amino acids profile and motor abilities in professional judokas. Ultimately, twelve athletes took part in the study. They were randomly assigned to the cryostimulation group (CRY, n = 6) or the control group (CON, n = 6). During 2 weeks of the judo training program, the CRY group performed 10 cryo-sessions (3-min, at a temperature of -110°C) and the CON group rested passively. Anthropometric measurements, a strength test, the Special Judo Efficiency Test (SJET) were assessed 2 days before and after the judo training program. Blood samples were collected at rest, 1 h after the first and the second SJET and 1 h after the first and the last cryo-session to establish growth factors and amino acid concentrations. Lactate level was measured before, immediately after and 1 h after the first and the second SJET. The applied intervention resulted in a significant increase of resting concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (from 10.23 ± 1.61 to 15.13 ± 2.93 ng⋅ml^-1; p = 0.01) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1; from 174.29 ± 49.34 to 300.50 ± 43.80 pg⋅ml^-1; p = 0.00) in the CRY group. A different response was registered 1 h directly post SJET in the CRY group (a significant increase of IGF-1, interleukin 15 and irisin: p = 0.01; p = 0.00; p = 0.03). Additionally, the significant drop of proline and leucine concentrations in the CRY group was obtained. Athletes' performance remained unchanged in both groups. However, subjects perceived positive changes induced by the intervention - not directly after cryostimulation but in response to the specific training workload. The increase of growth factors concentrations and the improvement of amino acid profile (proline and leucine) contributed to maintaining a high level of muscle function.

Cold Water Immersion After a Handball Training Session: The Relationship Between Physical Data and Sensorial Experience

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the physiological data from subjects and their reported sensory experiences during two types of recovery methods following a handball training session. Female handball players (average age: 21.4 ± 1.3 years; weight: 59.2 ± 3.3 kg; height: 158 ± 3 cm; body mass index, 23.4 ± 2.0 kg.m⁻²) carried out an athletic training session (rating of perceived exertion RPE: 14.70 ± 0.89) with either a passive recovery (PR) period or cold water immersion (CWI) for 14 min) (cross-over design). Physiological data were collected during the recovery period: CWI had a greater effect than PR on heart rate (HR; bpm), the higher frequencies (HF) of heart rate variability (HRV: 46.44 ± 21.50 vs. 24.12 ± 17.62), delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS: 1.37 ± 0.51 vs. 2.12 ± 1.25), and various reported emotional sensations. Spectrum HRV analysis showed a significant increase in HF during CWI. Sensorial experiences during the recovery periods were gathered from verbatim reports 24 h later. Players' comments about CWI revealed a congruence between the physiological data and sensorial reports. They used words such as: “thermal shock,” “regeneration,” “resourcefulness,” “dynamism,” and “disappearance of pain” to describe their sensations. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the link between physiological and experiential data during CWI and we propose that action of the parasympathetic system on the autonomic nervous system can, at least in part, explain the observed correlations between the corporeal data measured and the sensorial experiences reported.

Short-Term Resistance Training Supported by Whole-Body Cryostimulation Induced a Decrease in Myostatin Concentration and an Increase in Isokinetic Muscle Strength

The study aimed to determine whether combining cryostimulation with resistance training would effectively increase muscle strength, and if so, whether this adaptation would be related to changes in circulating levels of exerkines (i.e., mediators of systemic adaptation to exercise). Twenty-five students completed 12 sessions of resistance training, each followed by either cryostimulation (n = 15, 3 min exposure at -110 °C) or passive recovery (n = 10). Prior to and post this intervention, participants performed two eccentric cycling bouts (before and after training). At these points, serum concentrations of muscle damage marker (myoglobin), exerkines (interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 15 (IL-15), irisin, brain-derived neurotrophic factor), hypertrophy-related factors (myostatin, insulin-like growth factor 1), and muscle strength were measured. The applied procedure reduced the physiological burden of the second eccentric cycling bout and myoglobin concentrations only in the group subject to cryostimulation. The same group also exhibited decreased levels of myostatin (from 4.7 ± 1.7 to 3.8 ± 1.8 ng·mL^-1, p < 0.05). A significant and large interaction between the group × time was noted in IL-15 concentration (p = 0.01, ηp2=0.27). Training and cryostimulation induced a positive and likely significant improvement of isokinetic muscle strength. Altogether, obtained results support the claim that resistance training combined with cold exposure modified muscle strength through modulation of myostatin and IL-15 concentrations.

Ventilatory responses to whole body cryotherapy

The effects of whole body cryotherapy (WBC) on measures of respiratory function, and their interaction with sex and anthropometry, are unknown. This study investigated ventilatory responses after WBC and examined the role of sex and anthropometric characteristics in 22 recreationally active male and female participants. Thermal sensation [TS], heart rate, blood pressure and ventilatory measures (expired volume [V˙E], oxygen consumption [V˙O₂], respiratory exchange ratio and metabolic equivalents of task [METS]) were evaluated pre- and post-WBC, compared to a control condition. V˙E increased by 10.8 L.min^-1 following WBC compared to 0.1 L.min^-1 in the control session (p=.001). V˙O₂ increased by 0.4 L.min^-1 following WBC compared to 0.0 L.min^-1 in the control session (p<.001). METS increased by 1.0 following WBC compared to 0.1 in the control session (p<.001). TS decreased by 2 following WBC compared to 0 in the control session (p<.001), with females' TS decreasing significantly more than males following WBC (p=.001). Following a WBC exposure, highly significant strong negative relationships were observed between fat mass index and ΔV˙O₂ (p=.002, r=-.718), body fat percentage and ΔV˙O₂ (p=.003, r=-.700), fat mass index and ΔMETS (p=.001, r=-.729), body fat percentage and ΔMETS (p=.004, r=-.676). Furthermore, strong, statistically significant positive correlations were observed following a WBC exposure between BSA to mass ratio and TS (p=.005, r=-.669), TS and BSA (p<0.001, r=.776) and fat free mass index and TS (p=.001, r=.745). A short exposure to WBC elicits a ventilatory response via increased V˙O₂, V˙E and METS. The largest increases occur within the first minute post-exposure, but return to near resting levels 1 min post-WBC. Increases in V˙O₂, V˙E and METS observed post-WBC are likely due to an acute transient shivering response due to cold air exposure.