Cryosauna for Post-exercise Recovery of Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) in Recreational Athletes: a Randomized Control Trial

The main goal of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of cryo-sauna in preventing the development of DOMS in the lower extremity. The second goal is to analyze the rate of regenerative changes in the right muscles after acute fatigue-induced exercises.

This study design was a randomized, controlled single-blind trial with repeated measures. Moreover, the design was prepared according to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) for pragmatic trials. Participants were assigned into two groups: (1) experimental group (CRYO, n =16) - cryostimulation using a cryo sauna; and (2) control group (CONT, n = 15) - without any intervention. This study was conducted in the Physical Exercise Laboratory. Both groups, CRYO and CON performed a fatigue-induced protocol consisting of counter-movement jumps (CMJ) (10 set for 10 repetitions). After the fatigue exercises, only CRYO underwent cryo sauna intervention including entry immediately after, 24, 48, and 72 hours post-exercise. The order of measurements at baseline included: blood sample testing (creatine kinase, myoglobin, leukocytes) and muscle stiffness of the lower extremity. All measurements we collected at baseline, immediately post, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours post-exercise.