Abstract:
The purposes of the study were to compare the effects among various recovery methods after exercise on athletes performance. The subjects were fifteen male football players of Chulalongkorn University (aged 18 25 years old). All subjects participated in a crossover design including four methods of 15 minutes recovery: resting recovery (Passive Recovery: PR), quiet sitting and cold water body wetting (CW), light exercise (Active Recovery: AR) and ice massage (IM) after exercise until reaching the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). On the experimental day, resting physiological data (body weight, height, body temperature, resting heart rate and resting blood lactic acid) were measured at rest before exercise. During exercise session, heart rate (HR), maximal heart rate (HRmax), oxygen uptake (VO2), maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max), blood pressure (BP) and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) were assessed. Immediately after exercise and 2, 5, 10,and 15 minute after exercise , heart rate, respiratory rate (RR), blood pressure and blood lactic acid (BL) were measured. All values were expressed as means and standard deviation and two-way ANOVA with repeated measures was used to determine the significant differences between recovery time and recovery methods, respectively. If there were any interaction of the variables, ANOVA with repeated measure would be employed, however if there were no interaction, Bonferroni method would be employed. In addition, paired - samples t-test was also used to test the statistical difference between the physiological variables during exercise before and after the recovery. The statistical significance of this study was accepted at p < .05. The results were as follows: 1. After first exercise, resting heart rate was decreased by IM recovery method at the significance level of .05 and by mean analysis, it was found out that resting systolic blood pressure and blood lactic acid were decreased by CW recovery method more than the other recovery methods. In addition, diastolic blood pressure was decreased mostly by AR recovery method and respiratory rate was decreased mostly by PR recovery method. 2. By mean analysis, it was found out that the increment of resting heart rate and systolic blood pressure during exercise were decreased mostly by CW recovery method while diastolic blood pressure and rate of perceived exertion during exercise were decreased mostly by PR recovery method. 3. By mean analysis, it was found out that the comparison of the work capacity between before and after the recovery showed that maximum heart rate and maximum oxygen consumption after IM recovery method were increased mostly while the least exercise duration was found out after PR recovery method.