Effects of Combining Cold Exposure and Compression on Muscle Recovery: A Randomized Crossover Study

Geoffrey Millour^1,2Romuald Lepers³Alexandre Coste²Christophe HAUSSWIRTH^2,4*

• ¹Nantes Université, France, Nantes, France
• ²Institut BeScored, Valbonne, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France
• ³Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, Burgundy, France
• ⁴Inserm CAPS U 1093, UFR STAPS, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, Burgundy, France

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of combining lower-limb cold exposure and intermittent compression on optimizing post-exercise recovery. Fifteen male recreational athletes were recruited for a randomized crossover study comparing two recovery strategies: cryocompression and passive recovery, both applied in a supine position for 30 min. These interventions followed a high-intensity plyometric exercise and were repeated over the subsequent two days. Performance metrics included counter movement jumps and squat jumps, 30-s Wingate cycling test, maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) force of knee extensors, prolonged low-frequency force depression (PLFFD), inflammatory markers, and subjective assessments of muscle soreness and heaviness. Measurements were taken at four time points: pre-exercise, immediately post-recovery, 24 h post, and 48 h post. Cryocompression significantly accelerated muscle recovery by reducing PLFFD and inflammation markers (salivary interleukin-1 beta and thigh circumference), while enhancing performance during MVC. Furthermore, perceived lower-limb heaviness, muscle soreness, and body pain decreased more rapidly with cryocompression at 24- and 48-h post-recovery. However, no significant differences were observed between the recovery strategies in cycling or jumping performance. These findings underscore cryocompression as a promising recovery strategy for athletes seeking to mitigate exercise-induced muscle damage and restore performance. Further research is warranted to investigate the applicability of these results across diverse athletic populations.