I am doing a MRES using combined compression garments and ice treatment. The compression garments come with ice inserts, that are cooled in the freezer then are places between the two layers of the compression garment to cool the muscle. I am wondering how long to ice for and whether to use a continuous or intermittent protocol
You say you want to treat DOMS but what does that mean? Do you want to reduce the functional decrement (e.g., strength loss) associated with the injury or just the soreness? If it is the former, ice treatment, either continuous or intermittent, is not likely to have a beneficial effect. The inflammatory response following exercise- or eccentric contraction-induced injury is not associated with an additional functional decrement so trying to reduce the inflammation is not likely to have a beneficial effect. If you wish to treat the soreness, I do not have an answer. I feel that any attempt to blunt the inflammatory response is likely to delay the removal of damaged tissue and subsequent recovery of the muscle.
Yes sorry probably should have explained that better. I am under the impression that icing post eccentric muscle damaging exercise will slow cell metabolism and reduce the inflammatory response and that this in turn will/may reduce the secondary damage caused by immune cells and reactive oxygen species. One theory I have read has also suggested that this build up of ROS stimulate the nerve endings and this contributes, or even causes DOMS. As such I am going to use ice and compression after a hard eccentric muscle damage protocol to see if it reduces muscle damage, inflammation, decrement to performance and/or DOMS.
Usually, they use cold-water immersion. However the time used for this is very heteregenous between the studies.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/224004748_Evidence_of_the_physiotherapeutic_interventions_used_currently_after_exercise-induced_muscle_damage_systematic_review_and_meta-analysis
Article Evidence of the physiotherapeutic interventions used current...
The continuous or intermittent application of ice will depend on the effects that you want to produce to control DOMS. It is known that the analgesic effect of ice will appear after a continuous application (~20 minutes) in the target zone, but if you want to control the inflammation associated vasodilation the intermittent application is the best (~10 minutes on and ~ 10 minutes off for 1 hour).
This paper will help you.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10322591?dopt=Abstract
DOMS produces various ailments in which the most commonest one is the peak torque alterations that are produced in the damaged muscle. There are various theories proposed to explain the occurrence of DOMS, but apparently none proves to be worthy. One must understand the complexity of problems while treating DOMS. Basically cryotherapy would not be beneficent in treating this type of condition. However, early intervention of cryotherapy given intermittently for around 30 mins would alleviate the pain reduction. Exercise protocols which includes mild stretching and short circuit exercises somehow enhance the healing process at the cellular level.
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