Efficacy of recovery strategies on pain pressure thresholds in basketball players
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v65.110201Keywords:
Sports training, team sports, sports recovery, pain sensitivityAbstract
Objective: This study assessed the effects of active recovery training, cold-water immersion, contrast-water immersion, and no intervention on pain pressure thresholds in the quadriceps, triceps, and full leg. Following these recovery strategies, it also examined the relationships between creatine kinase, myoglobin, and pain pressure thresholds.
Methods: Twenty basketball players from the Śląsk Wrocław team, aged 18 to 35, participated in a randomized controlled trial. They were divided into four groups: active recovery training, cold-water immersion, contrast-water immersion, and control. The interventions were applied post-match, and pain pressure thresholds were measured in the quadriceps, triceps, and full leg using a Somedic Algometer type 2. Blood samples were collected for analysis of creatine kinase and myoglobin levels.
Results: Active recovery training significantly improved pain pressure thresholds across all muscle groups compared to cold-water immersion, contrast-water immersion, and control (p=0.001, d = 0.87 to 6.12). Cold-water immersion showed significant benefits in the triceps and full leg muscles compared to contrast-water immersion and control (p=0.001, d = -2.90 to 5.56). Contrast-water immersion did not differ significantly from the control in any muscle group. No significant correlations were found between pain pressure thresholds and creatine kinase and myoglobin levels.
Conclusion: Active recovery training was the most effective strategy for improving pain pressure thresholds in basketball players, with cold-water immersion offering additional benefits for specific muscle groups. The lack of correlation between pain pressure thresholds and muscle damage biomarkers suggests that pain pressure thresholds alone may not be a reliable indicator of muscle damage.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Marcin Janusiak, Rui Miguel da Silva, Francisco Tomás González Fernández, Małgorzata Smoter, Aleksandra Kisilewicz, Sebastian Klich
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