The Effects of Deep Water Running and Cold Water Immersion on Muscle Soreness

Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is caused from any type of activity that places unaccustomed loads on a muscle. Athletes are consistently pursuing methods to help decrease soreness. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of deep water running (DWR) and cold water immersion (CWI) on perceived muscle soreness and creatine kinase (CK) activity. Healthy participants (males=2, females =12; mean ± SD, 22.8 + 4.9 yrs; 38.0 + 7.8 yrs VO2max; 113.6 + 27.3 lbs 1RM) completed five days of data collection. Seven days following a 1 repetition maximum (1RM), participants completed an eccentric exercise bout on the prone hamstring curl (4 sets of 10 repetitions, 120% 1 RM). Immediately following the exercise protocol, participants were randomized to one of three treatments: (1) CWI protocol (5 min in water 10 °C, 2.5 min out, 5 min in water 10 °C), (2) DWR protocol (10 min at 60% age predicted heart rate max), or (3) control (CON) protocol (sit quietly for 10 min). Blood was collected at 4 time points: pre-exercise, immediately postexercise, 24 h postexercise, and 48 h postexercise. Perceived muscle soreness was measured using a visual analogue scale (0-10 pain). There were no differences in creatine kinase activity and muscle soreness across trials. Creatine kinase activity significantly increased from baseline (mean=24.5, SD=40.4 Units/L) to 48 h postexercise (mean=165.1, SD=85.3 Units/L) and perceived muscle soreness (pre=.4, SD=.7, post=5.6, SD=2.2) was significantly greater 48 h post eccentric bout (