BC96 Sports and Exercise Therapy : Lymphatic Movements

1: What is meant by cryotherapy?

Cryotherapy is an activity that is done by most of the players after they have had a soccer game, which is a part of the post-exercise regime. This treatment helps the participants in developing their muscles and toning up their bodies before any match of an international standard. This therapy is used widely in treating the traumatic injuries that are acute in nature and can be developed by the players after the end of a match. The therapy acts as a recovery strategy for the players, as they might experience soft-tissue injuries, which may result in damaging the muscles. The effectiveness of this therapy is that the immersions in the cold water will help the individuals in increasing the washout of creatine kinase so that it can help in removing the lactates that has been built within the plasma.

2: How does cryotherapy help in reducing the inflammatory?

The use of this therapy will help in reducing the permeability of the capillary, cells and the lymphatic movements by vasoconstriction of the muscles. It also helps in reducing the inflammatory that can take place in the muscles, which are damaged along with the reduction in the necrosis of the cells. The reduction of the necrosis along with neutrophil migration and the rate of metabolism will help in reducing the secondary damages that may take place in the body. The advantage of this therapy is that it will help in reducing the damage of the muscles and manage the exercise of the bodies as well. Most of the soccer players feel that after a session of immersion in the cold water, will result in the simulating the pattern of activities so that it can result in better treatment among the individuals.

3: What were the methods through which the sample that was taken was to be analyzed?

The players had to undergo a thermo neural immersion in the cold water at a temperature of 10 degree Celsius along with ice where the participants were required to remain seated and immersing their limbs within the water bath. The participants were also asked to undergo a questionnaire based on the soreness of the muscles so that it can help in understanding the major issues that the players face after an intense match. The sampling of blood was also conducted on them through the method of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), which acted as an anticoagulant for the players. The blood that was collected was centrifuged at a revolution of 3000 spins in a minute for around 10 minutes so that it can help in removing the plasma from the blood. The performance test that was conducted was done based on the running by the participant from a meter lag behind the starting line through a verbal signal. After the race was completed the best time was registered.

4: What were the main findings from the test conducted on the participants?

The results of the test was that it helped in analyzing the biochemical markers, as the increase in the creatine kinase and myoglobin in the plasma cells of the players would lead to a major disruption in the membrane of the muscles. The different kinetics in the blood has helped in reaching a conclusion that the exercise has to be based specifically on proteins. The immersion in cold water resulted in stabilizing the level of creatine kinase so that it can help in improving the recovery of the body at a faster rate. The functions related to neuromuscular activities have helped in reducing the damage in the muscles as well. This will help in relaxing the muscles and the tissues of the muscles as well. The soreness of the muscles due to the accumulation of the metabolic by-products can cause inflammation in the muscles and the tissues, which can be prevented through the method of cryotherapy.  

5: What should be the measures that need to be taken up in improving the process of cryotherapy?

Most of the practitioners who are being involved in the method of cryotherapy has stated that the temperature needs to be between 8-15 degree Celsius but it has been observed that the facilities keep the temperature approximately around 11 degree Celsius. It is to be noted that the players have to be remain submerged for a span of 10 minutes so that it can help in enhancing the recovery process so that it can help in providing positive results in a shorter period of time.   

References

Ascensão, A., Leite, M., Rebelo, A.N., Magalhäes, S. and Magalhäes, J., 2011. Effects of cold water immersion on the recovery of physical performance and muscle damage following a one-off soccer match. Journal of sports sciences, 29(3), pp.217-225.

Hocutt JR, J.E., Jaffe, R., Rylander, C.R. and Beebe, J.K., 1982. Cryotherapy in ankle sprains. The American journal of sports medicine, 10(5), pp.316-319.