Effects on CK, RPE, VAS Scale and Physical Performance of Three Recovery Methods in Elite Basketball Players

Acute Effects on Creatine Kinase, Perceived Fatigue and Physical Performance of Different Post-Exercise Recovery Methods in Elite Basketball Players: A Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of cold water intermittent ion (CWI), carbohydrate and protein supplementation (SUPPL), and active recovery (ACT) on creatine kinase (CK), perceptual and performance markers of recovery in elite basketball players after a specific fatigue protocol.

Fifteen elite basketball players participated in this crossover controlled trial. All participants were randomly measured in 4 conditions of the recovery method 1 week apart after a fatigue exercise protocol (~ 45 'of high intensity intermittent effort with specific basketball movements). The recovery methods consist of CWI at 10oC in periods of 2 minutes submerged and 2 minutes out of the water, supplementation with 0.3gr / kg of maltodextrin and 0.2gr / kg of neutral whey protein in 0.5 liters of water, pedaling ACT for 25 minutes at 50% of maximum heart rate or a placebo drink (PLA). The Visual Analogue Fatigue Scale (VAS), Perceived Exercise Rate (RPE), CK and physical performance (jumping, speed, isometric and dynamic tests of resistance to squats) were measured before, after and 24 hours after of the protocol. The VAS scale and RPE were also measured immediately after application of the recovery method. Repeated 2-way post-hoc comparisons of ANOVA and Bonferroni measures were applied, with a significance set at P <0.05.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Placebo; Cold-water Immersion; Protein-carbohydrates Supplementation; Active Recovery
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Cold-water immersion; Procedure: Protein-carbohydrates supplementation; Procedure: Active recovery; Procedure: Placebo

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 15
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Spain
  • Cadiz
    • Puerto Real, Cadiz, Spain, 11510
      • Science of Education Faculty

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Having at least 10 years of sports practice,
• Having been training during the season a minimum of four times a week,
• Not having suffered serious or minor but recently injuries,
• Having competed and trained regularly in the previous season.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Suffering an injury during the study period
• Not having gone through all the treatment groups (CWI, carbohydrate-protein supplementation, active recovery and placebo)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: Double

Number of Arms

4

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Cold-water immersion; Subjects were immersed, in a sitting position where legs were always covered, in cold water at 11ºC in periods of 2 minutes submerged and 2 minutes out of the water at room temperature (25ºC), repeating this process 5 times.	Procedure: Cold-water immersion; Subjects were immersed, in a sitting position where legs were always covered, in cold water at 11ºC in periods of 2 minutes submerged and 2 minutes out of the water at room temperature (25ºC), repeating this process 5 times
Experimental: Protein-carbohydrates supplementation; Subjects consumed a mixed carbohydrate and protein beverage, composed of 0.3gr/kg of maltodextrin and 0.2gr/kg of neutral whey protein in 0.5 litres of water.	Procedure: Protein-carbohydrates supplementation; Subjects consumed a mixed carbohydrate and protein beverage, composed of 0.3gr/kg of maltodextrin and 0.2gr/kg of neutral whey protein in 0.5 litres of water. Subject sat for 25 minutes until all recovery methods were completed.
Experimental: Active recovery; Subjects was carried out using a bicycle ergometer. The subjects pedaled for 25 minutes at 50% of the maximum heart rate (HRmax).	Procedure: Active recovery; Subjects was carried out using a bicycle ergometer. The subjects pedaled for 25 minutes at 50% of the maximum heart rate (HRmax)
Placebo Comparator: Placebo; Subjects drank a water-based drink and sweetener. Both the PLA and SUPPL group sat for 25 minutes until all recovery methods were completed.	Procedure: Placebo; Subjects drank a water-based drink and sweetener. Subject sat for 25 minutes until all recovery methods were completed.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Creatine Kinase (CK)	Blood samples were obtained from the earlobe and collected into capillary tubes. Serum creatine kinase activity was analyzed with Reflotron ® Plus - Roche	4 Weeks
Fatigue perception	The VAS fatigue scale (VAS) was used and evaluated on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 = no fatigue and 10 = extremely fatigued).	4 Weeks
Rate of Perceived Exertion	The Rate of Perceived Exertion Scale (RPE) was used and evaluated on a scale from 1 to 10 (1 = no exertion and 10 = extremely hard).	4 Weeks
10 meters sprint time	10m Sprint Test was used and subjects ran 10m maximally. The subjects had 2 attempts to achieve their best performance with 1 minute of rest between trials. Time was recorded with a video analysis.	4 Weeks
4 x 10 meters agility time	4 x 10m Agility Test was used and subjects had to run as fast as possible between two cones 10 meters apart four times. The subjects had 2 attempts to achieve their best performance with 1 minute of rest between trials. Time was recorded with a video analysis.	4 Weeks
Squat Jump	The flight time in jumps height and its maximal speed were used as a measure of maximal muscle power and was measured on a force platform (Quattro Jump, Kristler). In squat jump, the subjects were asked to keep their hands on their hips and beginning the jump with a 90º knee flexion, without countermovement. Subjects had 2 attempts to achieve their best jump with 3 minutes of rest between trials.	4 Weeks
Counter Movement Jump	The flight time in jumps height and its maximal speed were used as a measure of maximal muscle power and was measured on a force platform (Quattro Jump, Kristler). In countermovement jump, subjects were only asked to keep their hands on their hips and jump as high as possible, with countermovement. Subjects had 2 attempts to achieve their best jump with 3 minutes of rest between trials.	4 Weeks
Abalakov Jump	The flight time in jumps height and its maximal speed were used as a measure of maximal muscle power and was measured on a force platform (Quattro Jump, Kristler). Abalakov jump was performed with free arms movement and countermovement. Subjects had 2 attempts to achieve their best jump with 3 minutes of rest between trials.	4 Weeks
Half Squat Isometric Strength	In the maximal isometric strength test, the subjects performed a maximal isometric contraction in the half squat exercise, with 90º knee flexion. The strength of the subjects was measured with a force platform on which the exercise was performed. The subjects were asked to perform the maximal strength possible since the start and to not stop until a signal. They had 2 attempts to achieve their best performance with 3 minutes of rest between trials.	4 Weeks
Half Squat Dynamic Strength	In the dynamic strength test, the subjects performed 6 repetitions of a half squat, using a Smith Machine, with the load that represented the 70% of RM (0.65 m·s) at baseline in the half squat exercise. The mean velocity was measured with a linear encoder and it was registered the fastest repetition. The subjects were asked to perform the concentric action as fast as possible. They had 2 attempts to achieve their best performance with 3 minutes of rest between trials.	4 Weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Cadiz
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Jesús G Ponce, PhD, University of Cádiz

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 1, 2017
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 1, 2017
• Study Completion (Actual): March 28, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 27, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 27, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): April 10, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 10, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 27, 2023
• Last Verified: March 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: nutrition; cryotherapy; exercise-induced muscle damage; recovery strategies; team sports; invisible training
• Other Study ID Numbers: The RECOVERY Study

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No