Effects of adding post-workout microcurrent in males cross country athletes. Issue 12 (2nd December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Naclerio, Fernando; Moreno-Perez, Diego; Seijo, Marcos; Karsten, Bettina; Larrosa, Mar; García-Merino, Jose Ánge L.; Thirkell, Jack; Larumbe-Zabala, Eneko
• Is Part Of: European journal of sport science. Volume 21:Issue 12(2021)
• Page Start: 1708
• Page End: 1717
• Publication Date: 2021-12-02
• Subjects: Endurance performance -- body composition -- recovery -- DOMS -- lactate -- non-invasive electrical microampere stimulus; Sports sciences -- Periodicals; Sports Medicine -- Periodicals; Exercise -- Periodicals; Sports -- Periodicals; 612
• DOI: 10.1080/17461391.2020.1862305
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1746-1391

Abstract

Abstract: Post-exercise microcurrent based treatments have shown to optimise exercise-induced adaptations in athletes. We compared the effects of endurance training in combination with either, a microcurrent or a sham treatment, on endurance performance. Additionally, changes in body composition, post-exercise lactate kinetics and perceived delayed onset of muscle soreness (DOMS) were determined. Eighteen males (32.8 ± 6.3 years) completed an 8-week endurance training programme involving 5 to 6 workouts per week wearing a microcurrent (MIC, n=9) or a sham (SH, n=9) device for 3-h post-workout or in the morning during non-training days. Measurements were conducted at pre- and post-intervention. Compared to baseline, both groups increased ( P < 0.01) maximal aerobic speed (MIC, pre = 17.6 ± 1.3 to post=18.3 ± 1.0; SH, pre=17.8 ± 1.5 to post = 18.3 ± 1.3 km . h −1 ) with no changes in V ˙ O2peak . No interaction effect per group and time was observed ( P =0.193). Although both groups increased ( P < 0.05) trunk lean mass (MIC, pre=23.2 ± 2.7 to post=24.2 ± 2.0; SH, pre=23.4 ± 1.7 to post=24.3 ± 1.6 kg) only MIC decreased (pre=4.8 ± 1.5 to post=4.5 ± 1.5, p =0.029) lower body fat. At post-intervention, no main differences between groups were observed for lactate kinetics over the 5 min recovery period. Only MIC decreased ( P <0.05) DOMS at 24-h and 48-h, showing a significant average lower DOMS score over 72-h after the completion of the exercise-induced muscle soreness protocol. In conclusion, a 3-h daily application of microcurrent over an 8-week endurance training programme produced no further benefits on performance in endurance-trained males. Nonetheless, the post-workout microcurrent application promoted more desirable changes in body composition and attenuated the perception of DOMS over 72-h post-exercise.