Effects of Alternating Heat and Cold Stimulation on Muscle Fatigue and Autonomic Nervous Activity
【Supercategory：7. DESCENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Subcategory：7.43 Vol.43】
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to investigate an effective alternating heat and cold stimulation protocol for improving muscle fatigue, and to examine its effects on intramuscular hemodynamics and autonomic nervous system activity. The healthy adult male individuals were included and underwent a typing task to induce fatigue in the trapezius muscle, and then underwent a total of four intervention conditions: three alternating heat and cold stimulation conditions （a ratio of 3 min of heat stimulation to 1, 2, and 3 min of cold stimulation） and no stimulation condition using a wearable thermo device. Outcome measures were muscle hardness and subjective symptoms. In addition, we evaluated muscle tissue hemodynamics with near-infrared spectroscopy and autonomic nerve activity using heart rate variability analysis during the intervention in which improvements were obtained in these items. Our results showed that alternating heat and cold stimulation at ratio of 3:1 protocol improved muscle hardness and subjective symptoms. Furthermore, the changes in oxygenated hemoglobin concentration and total hemoglobin concentration in the trapezius muscle and the LF/HF which is an index of sympathetic nerve activity increased after the 3:1 protocol. the current study demonstrated that local superficial alternationg heat and cold stimulation affected the target muscle tissue and autonomic nerve activity.
DECENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.43/The DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE
The purpose of this study was to investigate an effective alternating heat and cold stimulation protocol for improving muscle fatigue, and to examine its effects on intramuscular hemodynamics and autonomic nervous system activity. The healthy adult male individuals were included and underwent a typing task to induce fatigue in the trapezius muscle, and then underwent a total of four intervention conditions: three alternating heat and cold stimulation conditions （a ratio of 3 min of heat stimulation to 1, 2, and 3 min of cold stimulation） and no stimulation condition using a wearable thermo device. Outcome measures were muscle hardness and subjective symptoms. In addition, we evaluated muscle tissue hemodynamics with near-infrared spectroscopy and autonomic nerve activity using heart rate variability analysis during the intervention in which improvements were obtained in these items. Our results showed that alternating heat and cold stimulation at ratio of 3:1 protocol improved muscle hardness and subjective symptoms. Furthermore, the changes in oxygenated hemoglobin concentration and total hemoglobin concentration in the trapezius muscle and the LF/HF which is an index of sympathetic nerve activity increased after the 3:1 protocol. the current study demonstrated that local superficial alternationg heat and cold stimulation affected the target muscle tissue and autonomic nerve activity.
DECENTE SPORTS SCIENCE Vol.43/The DESCENTE AND ISHIMOTO MEMORIAL FOUNDATION FOR THE PROMOTION SPORTS SCIENCE
| Researcher | Tomonori Sawada*1, Hiroki Okawara*1, Daisuke Nakashima*1, Takeo Nagura*2 |
|---|---|
| University or institution | *1 Keio University School of Medicine, *2 Nagura Orthopedic Clinic |
Keywords
muscle fatigue, muscle hardness, near-infrared spectroscopy, autonomic nerve, heart rate variability