The Effect of Thermotherapy on Recovery and Performance

NCT02506283 | Completed Results DMC

• 1 other identifier: KEK-ZH-Nr.2015-0113
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 22
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study investigates the effects of cooling on the recovery and performance characteristic in young healthy subjects. The study is divided in two projects: Project A: investigates the effects of 20 min. post-exercise cooling on vertical jump performance and delayed onset muscle soreness and rated perceived exertion. Project B: investigates the effects of 20 min. pre-exercise cooling on maximal voluntary contraction of the right M. quadriceps femoris and delayed onset muscle soreness and rated perceived exertion.

Conditions

Healthy

Keywords

cryotherapy; recovery; athletic performance; maximum voluntary contraction; rated perceived exertion; delayed onset muscle soreness; jump performance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Delayed-onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS)

  The subjective recovery characteristics "Delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS)" was rated on a 0-10 cm visual analog scale. DOMS was assessed in a squat position (90° knee angle, with brief holding of maximum 3 seconds) ranging from zero (no soreness) to ten (severe soreness). Higher values mean mean more DOMS and therefore less recovery.

  72 hours

• Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE)

  The subjective recovery characteristics " Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE)" was rated on a 6-20 Borg scale (from 6 = "no exertion at all" to 20 = "Maximal exertion") in a standing position. The higher value means more exertion and therefore less recovery.

  72 hours

• Vertical Jump Performance (VJP)

  Vertical jump performance (VJP) was assessed performing three maximal counter mouvemet jumps (CMJs) with a 30-second pause between the three jumps on the Just Jump system (Probotics Inc, Huntsville, AL, USA). The highest jump was recorded.

  72 hours

• Peak Power Output (PPO)

  Peak power output (PPO) was assessed performing three maximal counter movement jumps (CMJs) on the Just Jump system (Probotics Inc, Huntsville, AL, USA) with a 30-second pause between the three jumps. PPO (presented in watts) was calculated.

  72 hours

Study Arms (2)

cooling intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

subjects in this study receive a single pre-exercise (3x MVC) or post-exercise intervention (3x 30 counter movement jumps), consisting of an external cooling application (Zamar Therapy CT clinic) applied to both thighs. Both interventions have a duration of 20 minutes and a temperature of 8°C

Device: Zamar Therapy CT clinic

thermoneutral intervention

SHAM COMPARATOR

subjects in the control group receive a single pre-exercise (3x MVC) or post-exercise (3x 30 counter movement jumps) sham intervention, consisting of a 20 minute external thermoneutral application (Zamar Therapy CT clinic) applied to both thighs. Both sham interventions have a duration of 20 minutes and a temperature of 32°C.

Device: Zamar Therapy CT clinic

Interventions

Zamar Therapy CT clinic DEVICE

Zamar Therapy is a certified medical product (directive 93/42/EEC and ISO 134 85:2012) (www.zamarmedical.com)

cooling intervention; thermoneutral intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• only healthy young subjects 18-30 years
• no musculoskeletal surgery in trunk and lower extremities
• injury history in trunk and lower extremity for more than one year
• subjects taking anticonceptive medication are allowed to participate

You may not qualify if:

• actual injuries or injuries for less than one year in trunk and /or lower extremities
• injury history in trunk and lower extremity for more than one year with complaints
• anxiety of cooling
• subjects on medication
• pace maker
• cardiovascular disease
• pregnancy
• skeletal problems
• appendectomy for less than two years
• Morbus Raynaud syndrome

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland: lead
• THIM - die internationale Hochschule für Physiotherapie: collaborator
• Vrije Universiteit Brussel: collaborator
• Universiteit Antwerpen: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland SUPSI

Landquart, Kanton Graubünden, 7302, Switzerland

Location

Related Publications (8)

• Bleakley C, McDonough S, Gardner E, Baxter GD, Hopkins JT, Davison GW. Cold-water immersion (cryotherapy) for preventing and treating muscle soreness after exercise. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Feb 15;2012(2):CD008262. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008262.pub2.

  PMID: 22336838 BACKGROUND

• Ross ML, Garvican LA, Jeacocke NA, Laursen PB, Abbiss CR, Martin DT, Burke LM. Novel precooling strategy enhances time trial cycling in the heat. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011 Jan;43(1):123-33. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181e93210.

  PMID: 20508537 BACKGROUND

• Ascensao A, Leite M, Rebelo AN, Magalhaes S, Magalhaes J. Effects of cold water immersion on the recovery of physical performance and muscle damage following a one-off soccer match. J Sports Sci. 2011 Feb;29(3):217-25. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2010.526132.

  PMID: 21170794 RESULT

• Banfi G, Lombardi G, Colombini A, Melegati G. Whole-body cryotherapy in athletes. Sports Med. 2010 Jun 1;40(6):509-17. doi: 10.2165/11531940-000000000-00000.

  PMID: 20524715 RESULT

• Barnett A. Using recovery modalities between training sessions in elite athletes: does it help? Sports Med. 2006;36(9):781-96. doi: 10.2165/00007256-200636090-00005.

  PMID: 16937953 RESULT

• Pointon M, Duffield R, Cannon J, Marino FE. Cold application for neuromuscular recovery following intense lower-body exercise. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2011 Dec;111(12):2977-86. doi: 10.1007/s00421-011-1924-1. Epub 2011 Mar 29.

  PMID: 21445604 RESULT

• Wegmann M, Faude O, Poppendieck W, Hecksteden A, Frohlich M, Meyer T. Pre-cooling and sports performance: a meta-analytical review. Sports Med. 2012 Jul 1;42(7):545-64. doi: 10.2165/11630550-000000000-00000.

  PMID: 22642829 RESULT

• White GE, Wells GD. Cold-water immersion and other forms of cryotherapy: physiological changes potentially affecting recovery from high-intensity exercise. Extrem Physiol Med. 2013 Sep 1;2(1):26. doi: 10.1186/2046-7648-2-26.

  PMID: 24004719 RESULT

Related Links

• Zamar thermotherapy

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Dr. Erich Hohenauer
• Organization: University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI)

erich.hohenauer@supsi.ch

+41813000175

Study Officials

• Ron Clijsen, PhD

  University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland SUPSI

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: TRIPLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 27, 2015
• First Posted: July 23, 2015
• Study Start: May 1, 2015
• Primary Completion: November 1, 2018
• Study Completion: May 1, 2019
• Last Updated: October 20, 2025
• Results First Posted: October 20, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Locations

CH (1)