Effect of heat pre-conditioning on recovery following exercise-induced muscle damage

• Published in: Current research in physiology 2021-01, Vol.4, p.155-162
• Main Authors: Sabapathy, Murali, Tan, Frankie, Al Hussein, Shadiq, Jaafar, Haiyum, Brocherie, Franck, Racinais, Sebastien, Ihsan, Mohammed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Heat shock protein; Heat therapy; Human health and pathology; Humanities and Social Sciences; Life Sciences; Microvascular function; Near-infrared spectroscopy; Research Paper; Skeletal muscle recovery; Sport; Sport physiology; Spring mass model; Tissues and Organs
• ISSN: 2665-9441; 2665-9441
• DOI: 10.1016/j.crphys.2021.06.002

This study investigated the influence of heat pre-conditioning on the recovery of muscle torque, microvascular function, movement economy and stride mechanics following exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). Twenty male participants were equally assigned to a control (CON) and an experimental group (HEAT), and performed a 30-min downhill run (DHR) to elicit EIMD. HEAT group received three consecutive days of heat exposure (45.1 ​± ​3.2 ​min of hot water immersion at 42 ​°C) prior to DHR. Microvascular function (near-infrared spectroscopy), maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) torque of the knee extensors, as well as two treadmill-based steady-state runs performed below (SSR-1) and above (SSR-2) the first ventilatory threshold were assessed prior to DHR and repeated for four consecutive days post-DHR (D1-POST to D4-POST). The decline in MVC torque following EIMD was attenuated in HEAT compared with CON at D1-POST (p ​= ​0.037), D3-POST (p ​= ​0.002) and D4-POST (p ​= ​0.022). Muscle soreness increased in both CON and HEAT, but was significantly attenuated in HEAT compared with CON at D2-POST (p ​= ​0.024) and D3-POST (p ​= ​0.013). Microvascular function decreased in CON from D1-POST to D3-POST (p ​= ​0.009 to 0.018), and was lower compared with HEAT throughout D1-POST to D3-POST (p ​= ​0.003 to 0.017). Pre-heat treatment decreased the magnitude of strength loss and muscle soreness, as well as attenuated the decline in microvascular function following EIMD. Heat treatment appears a promising pre-conditioning strategy when embarking on intensified training periods or competition. [Display omitted] •Three days of heat pre-conditioning decreases the extent of strength loss, soreness and microvascular function after EIMD.•Pre heat treatment might be a promising preconditioning tool prior to intensified training periods or competition.•Heat tretament may positively impact activities of daily living, training quality and adherence to training programs.