Effects of Intermittent Sequential Pneumatic Compression on Functional, Biochemical, and Perceptual Recovery Markers in Trained Cyclists: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Crossover Trial.

PURPOSE: Intermittent Sequential Pneumatic Compression (ISPC) has gained popularity as a recovery modality among athletes, yet its effectiveness in high-performance cycling settings remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 30-minute high-pressure ISPC intervention, in comparison with a sham condition, on the recovery of high-level road cyclists following a 30-minute all-out time trial on a stationary trainer.

METHODS

Twenty-one male participants (age: 22.8 [4.8] y) were included in this crossover trial, with their recovery protocol sequence randomly assigned. Measures of isometric knee extension, cycling performance (4-min time-trial), quadriceps low-frequency fatigue, creatine kinase, and subjective measures of fatigue, recovery, and muscle soreness were collected at baseline, 1-hour postintervention (post 1h), and at 24 and 48 hours.

RESULTS

Benefits from the use of ISPC were identified in perceptions of recovery, muscle soreness, and fatigue, as well as in low-frequency fatigue scores and maximal voluntary contraction of knee extension (P < .05); however, these effects did not translate into improved performance in subsequent time trials at the 24th hour (4 min; P = .18). Additionally, no relevant increase in creatine kinase activity was identified following the fatigue protocol.

CONCLUSION

While ISPC appears to enhance acute subjective and neuromuscular recovery markers following a strenuous time trial, it does not appear to confer a performance advantage in a short-duration cycling effort 24 hours later. However, its use may still be justifiable to accelerate perceptual and neuromuscular recovery in high-level cyclists.