Cooling devices in exercise recovery
Our study is titled “Effectiveness of various cooling devices for recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage” and is being conducted by researchers at Victoria University’s Institute for Health and Sport (IHES).
The aim of the study, led by Associate Professor Aaron Petersen and Dr Meto Kjertakov, is to investigate the efficacy of three different cooling devices in minimising the severity and enhancing recovery following exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD).
About the project
Eccentric exercise occurs when a muscle lengthens while it is contracting, e.g. when walking downhill, landing after a jump, or lowering a weight. Eccentric exercise in unaccustomed individuals has been shown to induce muscle damage, which is referred to as EIMD.
EIMD can have prolonged effects (up to 2 weeks), including reduced muscle strength and range of motion (ROM), increased muscle soreness and swelling, and the leakage of muscle proteins into the circulation.
The major impact of this research will be to identify effective treatments for EIMD, enabling a faster return to regular activity, training, and competition.
Participate in the study
Recruitment for this study is now underway; both male and female participants are welcome to participate.
Eligibility
Inclusion criteria:
- Healthy males and females not engaged in weight training
- Aged 18 to 40
Exclusion criteria:
- Diabetes (Type 1 or 2)
- Chronic heart disease
- Hypertension (systolic ≥140 mmHg systolic, diastolic ≥90 mmHg)
- Use of hypertensive medication
- Severely overweight/obese (BMI> 30)
- Uncontrolled metabolic and/or cardiovascular disease
- Any recent significant injury that may affect the ability to exercise during the study
- Any other contraindications that could impact the safety or capacity to exercise
- Resistance training
Benefits of participating
- $200 gift voucher for completing the study
- Increase the understanding of fitness tests used by sports scientists
What participants are required to do
- Participants will attend the Exercise Physiology Laboratory at Victoria University, Footscray Park, on six occasions over a period of three weeks
- Venous blood sampling
- Strenuous eccentric exercise
- Strength test
- Upper arm girth measurement
- Measurement of elbow range of motion
- Assessment of muscle soreness
- Skin and muscle temperature measurement
- Application of a cooling device to the upper arm