ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Effectiveness of post-match recovery strategies in rugby players

N D Gill¹, C M Beaven² and C Cook²

¹ Waikato Institute of Technology, School of Sport and Exercise Science, Hamilton, New Zealand
² The Horticulture and Food Research Institute of New Zealand, Hamilton, New Zealand

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr Nicholas D Gill
Waikato Institute of Technology, School of Sport and Exercise Science, Hamilton 2001, New Zealand; nicholas.gill{at}wintec.ac.nz

Objectives: To examine the effectiveness of four interventions on the rate and magnitude of muscle damage recovery, as measured by creatine kinase (CK).

Methods: 23 elite male rugby players were monitored transdermally before, immediately after, 36 hours after, and 84 hours after competitive rugby matches. Players were randomly assigned to complete one of four post-match strategies: contrast water therapy (CWT), compression garment (GAR), low intensity active exercise (ACT), and passive recovery (PAS).

Results: Significant increases in CK activity in transdermal exudate were observed as a result of the rugby match (p<0.01). The magnitude of recovery in the PAS intervention was significantly worse than in the ACT, CWT, and GAR interventions at the 36 and 84 hour time points (p<0.05).

Conclusions: An enhanced rate and magnitude of recovery was observed in the ACT, CWT, and GAR treatment groups when compared with the PAS group. Low impact exercise immediately post-competition, wearing compression garments, or carrying out contrast water therapy enhanced CK clearance more than passive recovery in young male athletes.

Abbreviations: ACT, active recovery; CK, creatine kinase; CWT, contrast water therapy; GAR, compression garment; NPC, National Provincial Championship; PAS, passive recovery

Keywords: creatine kinase; contrast water therapy; active recovery; passive recovery; compression garments

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