Effects of LED therapy and cryotherapy recovery methods on maximal isometric handgrip strength and blood lactate removal in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) practitioners

• Published in: Science & sports 2017-12, Vol.32 (6), p.376-380
• Main Authors: de Araújo, L.F., da Silva, D.F., Peserico, C.S., Machado, F.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Combat sports; Cryotherapy; Exercise; Exercise recovery; Force isométrique; Isometric strength; Light emitting diodes; Light therapy; Phototherapy; Photothérapie; Récupération; Sports; Sports de combat
• ISSN: 0765-1597
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scispo.2017.08.003

The post-fight recovery is a relevant topic that is used for improvement resting in order to keep performance as high as possible jiu-jitsu fighters. This study aimed to analyze the effects of three different recovery methods: (1) local cryotherapy by cold-water immersion; (2) light-emitting diodes (LED) therapy and (3) passive recovery on maximal isometric handgrip strength and lactate concentrations ([LA]) between fights in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) practitioners. Ten men BJJ practitioners, in a crossover design, underwent to all the recovery methods proposed (cryotherapy, LED therapy, and passive recovery). The participants performed three visits with interval of seven days between them, in which each recovery method was used in a random manner between two sets of simulated fights. In each visit, practitioners performed a maximal handgrip strength test followed by blood samples collection to determine [LA] before the first fight. Then, they performed two sets of simulated fights with six minutes each set and 15min resting interval between sets. The recovery method was applied during the resting period. Although there was no statistically significant difference between recovery methods for maximal isometric handgrip strength, there was a moderate ES between cryotherapy and passive recovery (ES=0.78) and a moderate ES between LED therapy and passive recovery (ES=0.58) for the percentage variation of handgrip strength before and after the recovery period. Results suggest that LED therapy and cryotherapy are associated with greater maximal isometric handgrip strength recovery between fights compared to passive recovery. La récupération post-combat est un sujet pertinent qui sert à améliorer le repos afin de maintenir les performances les plus élevées possible des combattants de jiu-jitsu. Cette étude visait à analyser les effets de trois méthodes de récupération différentes : (1) local cryothérapie par immersion dans l’eau froide ; (2) thérapie par diode électroluminescente (LED) et (3) récupération passive sur la force de préhension isométrique maximale et la lactatémie sanguine ([LA]) entre les combats chez des praticiens de jiu-jitsu brésiliens. Dix hommes brésiliens ont été soumis aux trois méthodes de récupération proposées de manière aléatoire (cryothérapie, thérapie LED et récupération passive). Les combattants ont effectué trois visites à un intervalle de 7jours entre les visites et les méthodes de récupération ont été assignées au hasard entre deux