Comparing the Effectiveness of Various Recovery Method Combinations on Improving Leg Muscle Power and Blood Lactic Acid Level

Objectives. This study aimed to investigate the impact of various recovery methods on improving lower extremity muscle power and decreasing lactic acid levels among student-athletes. Materials and Methods. This study employed a randomized control group with a pretest and posttest design. The participants of this study were selected using simple random sampling, consisted of forty students who were divided into four groups: the sports massage and hot water group (MHW), sports massage and cold water (MCW), hot water immersion (HWI), cold water immersion(CWI). Data were collected using a force plate to measure lower extremity muscle power (watt), while a lactate meter was used to determine lactic acid level (mmol/l). Data were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test to examine the difference of measured variables before and after treatment. Subsequently, the Kruskall-Wallis test was performed to investigate between-groups differences, followed by post-hoc testing using the Mann-Whitney test. Results. The results indicated that all groups (MHW, MCW, HWI, and CWI) experienced an increase in lower extremity muscle power, and reduced lactic acid levels. MHW was most effective in increasing lower extremity muscle power by 11.63 watt, while HWI had the most positive influence on reducing lactic acid levels by 7.16 mmol/l. Conclusions. These findings demonstrate the value of combining sports massage with hot and cold-water therapies as a rehabilitation strategy. The researchers emphasize the significance of these therapies in improving lower extremity muscle power and reducing lactic acid accumulation, which contributes to optimal physical conditioning and performance during sports competitions.