Effect of cryotherapy on post-exercise cardiac autonomic recovery in mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters: A Randomized Clinical Trial

• Autor(a) principal: Medeiros, Jason Azevedo de
• Data de Publicação: 2022
• Outros Autores: Almeida-Neto, Paulo Francisco de, Bulhões-Correia, Alexandre, Medeiros, Rafaela Catherine da Silva Cunha de, Alves, Jefferson Dornelas Fernandes, Aidar, Felipe J., Cabral, Breno Guilherme de Araújo Tinôco, Dantas, Paulo Moreira Silva
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Research, Society and Development
• Texto Completo: https://rsdjournal.org/index.php/rsd/article/view/27984
• topic: Enseñanza de la educación física; Rendimiento; Atletas; Ritmo cardíaco.; Physical education teaching; Performance; Athletes; Heart rate.; Ensino de educação Física; Performance; Atletas; Frequência cardíaca.

Background: Cryotherapy brings benefits for muscle recovery and reduction of lactate thresholds in fighters; however, the effect of cryotherapy on the autonomous cardiac recovery (ACR) of wrestlers is not yet defined in the scientific literature. Objective: To analyze the effect of cryotherapy on ACR after simulated combat exercise in mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters. Methods: Crossover randomized clinical trial with a sample of 17 MMA fighters (male, age >18 years). There was simulated combat of three rounds of MMA; each round lasted 5-min, there were the 60s between rounds. ACR was assessed by resting heart rate (RHR), which was monitored by a portable Polar-FT1® device. We measured RHR in the interval between the rounds at the 30s and 60s of rest in the conditions: without cryotherapy (Control), application of an ice pack in the thoracic region (TC); Immersion of feet in ice water (FC). Results: At 30-s of RHR, the control condition was better than FC to reduce RHR in rounds 1 and 2 (p<0.05; η2p:0.28). At the 60s of RHR, the control condition was better than FC and TC (p<0.05; η2p:0.32). The control condition had a better RHR recovery rate than the FC condition after rounds one (η2p: 0.23), two (η2p: 0.46), and three (η2p: 0.27) (p<0.05). The TC condition did not show differences concerning the control and FC conditions. Conclusion: Cryotherapy applications in the thoracic region and by complete immersion of the feet did not generate significant effects on the ACR of MMA fighters.