The Effect of Cold-Water Immersion Application on Biochemical Parameters in Athletes

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to see what influence cold water immersion had on the athletes' biochemical parameters. Method: The study included 20 elite level (Experimental 10, Control 10) male athletes who were licensed in the athletics branch and competed in national and international events. For four weeks, six days a week, the research group was subjected to a ninety-minute long-distance running regimen. Blood samples were collected from the research group's athletes twice, at the start and finish of the training session. CK, ALT, AST and LDH levels were determined in the taken blood samples. The data were analyzed using the SPSS package program. Significance level was accepted as p<0.05. Results: According to the findings obtained in the research; According to the research results; It was determined that the trainings applied created significant changes in the CK, ALT, AST and LDH levels of the athletes in the control and experimental groups. Conclusion: Furthermore, it was discovered that the cold water immersion treatment used on the athletes in the experimental group had a greater favorable effect on CK, ALT, AST, and LDH levels than the athletes in the control group.

Keywords

• Cold water immersion (CWI)
• Athletics
• Biochemistry
• Muscle damage
• Recovery

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