Whole-body cryostimulation yielded a 2- to 4-fold increase in vagal HRV indices and, like active recovery, improved VO2peak (+5.4% and +3.4% vs -3.6% for passive; p<0.01) between exercise bouts.
RCT (n=11)
Randomized order (crossover)
Does whole-body cryostimulation, contrast-water therapy, or active recovery improve parasympathetic reactivation and metabolic recovery compared to passive recovery in elite synchronized swimmers?
Whole-body cryostimulation yields strong parasympathetic reactivation and is as effective as active recovery for metabolic recovery in elite synchronized swimmers.
This study investigated the effect of whole-body cryostimulation (WBC), contrast-water therapy (CWT), active recovery (ACT), and passive condition (PAS) protocols on the parasympathetic reactivation and metabolic parameters of recovery in elite synchronized swimmers who performed 2 simulated competition ballets (B1 and B2) separated by 70 min. After determining maximal oxygen consumption (V̇O(2max400)) and blood lactate concentrations (La(-)(b400)) during a 400-m swim trial, 11 swimmers performed 1 protocol per week in randomized order. Heart rate variability (HRV) was measured at rest (PreB1), 5 min after B1 (PostB1), before B2 (PreB2), and 5 min after B2 (PostB2). V̇O(2peak) was measured at PostB1 and PostB2, and La(-)(b) was measured at PostB1, PreB2, and PostB2. PostB1 V̇O(2peak) and V̇O(2max400) were similar, but PostB1 La(-)(b) was higher than La(-)(b400) (p = 0.004). Each ballet caused significant decreases in HRV indices. At PreB2, all HRV indices had returned to PreB1 levels in the CWT, PAS, and ACT protocols, whereas the WBC protocol yielded a 2- to 4-fold increase in vagal-related HRV indices, compared with PreB1. WBC and ACT both increased La(-)(b) recovery, compared with PAS (p = 0.06 and p = 0.04, respectively), and yielded an increased V̇O(2peak) from B1 to B2; however, it decreased after PAS (+5.4%, +3.4%, and -3.6%; p < 0.01). This study describes the physiological response to repeated maximal work bouts that are highly specific to elite synchronized swimming. In the context of short-term recovery, WBC yields a strong parasympathetic reactivation, and shows similar effectiveness to ACT on the metabolic parameters of recovery and subsequent exercise capacity.
Schaal et al. (Thu,) conducted a rct in Elite synchronized swimmers (n=11). Whole-body cryostimulation (WBC), contrast-water therapy (CWT), active recovery (ACT) vs. Passive condition (PAS) was evaluated on Parasympathetic reactivation (HRV indices) and metabolic parameters (blood lactate, VO2peak). Whole-body cryostimulation yielded a 2- to 4-fold increase in vagal HRV indices and, like active recovery, improved VO2peak (+5.4% and +3.4% vs -3.6% for passive; p<0.01) between exercise bouts.