The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of pre-exercise WBC(whole-body cryotherapy) on EIMD (exercise-induced muscle injury) of the biceps brachII in healthy men in their twenties. Thirty subjects were divided into 3 groups, Experimental group I(n=10) who received WBC intervention before EIMD exercise, Experimental group II (n=10) who received WBC intervention after EIMD exercise, and control group (n=10). In this experiment, WBC was set-up by -130℃, 3 minutes. The effects of the WBC were evaluated by MVIC(maximal voluntary isometric contraction), PPT(pressure pain threshold), active ROM(range of motion), serum CK(creatine kinase) and LDH(lactate dehydrogenase), which were measured at pre-exercise, after 24, 48 hours. The experimental data were analyzed by using the repeated measure ANOVA.
The results of this research were as follows:
1) In the comparison of the MVIC, there were significant variations with the lapse the time in three groups(p〈.001) and there was a significant interaction of time and group(p〈.001). In the among group comparison, the MVIC of experimental group II was significantly larger than those of other groups(p〈.001).
2) In the comparison of the PPT, there were significant variations with the lapse the time in three groups(p〈.001) and there was a significant interaction of time and group(p〈.001). In the among group comparison, the PPT of experimental group II was significantly larger than those of other groups(p〈.01).
3) In the comparison of the active extension angle, there were significant variations with the lapse the time in three groups(p〈.001) and there was a significant interaction of time and group(p〈.001). In the among group comparison, the active extension angle of experimental group II was significantly smaller than those of other groups(p〈.001).
4) In the comparison of the active flexion angle, there were significant variations with the lapse the time in three groups(p〈.01) and there was a significant interaction of time and group(p〈.001). In the among group comparison, the active flexion angle of experimental group II was significantly lager than those of other groups(p〈.05).
5) In the comparison of the CK value, there were significant variations with the lapse the time in three groups(p〈.001) and there was a significant interaction of time and group(p〈.001). In the among group comparison, the CK value of experimental group II was significantly smaller than other groups(p〈.001).
6) In the comparison of the LDH value, there were significant variations with the lapse the time in three groups(p〈.001) and there was a significant interaction of time and group(p〈.001). In the among group comparison, the LDH value of experimental group II was significantly smaller than other groups(p〈.001).
Above results revealed that the WBC intervention after an exercise had a positive effect of muscle function after EIMD. Therefore we can consider the WBC as a considerable intervention method to prevent or reduce an exercise injury.