Effects of three postexercice recovery treatments on femoral artery blood flow kinetics

Aim: This study aimed to compare the kinetics of muscle leg blood flow during three recovery treatments following a prolonged exercise: contrast water therapy (CWT), compression stockings (CS) or passive recovery (PR). Methods: Fifteen men came to the laboratory three times to perform a 45-min exercise followed 5 min after by a standardized 12-min recovery treatment in upright position, alternating between two vats every 2 min: CWT (cold: ~12 °C to warm: 36 °C), CS (~20 mmHg) or PR. The order of treatments was randomized. Blood flow was measured using Doppler ultrasound during the recovery treatments (i.e., min 3, 5, 7 and 9) in the superficial femoral artery distally to the common bifurcation (~3 cm) (above the water and stocking). Results: Blood flow was significantly higher during CWT (P<0.01; +22.91%) and CS (P<0.05; +15.26%) than during PR. Although no statistical difference between CWT and CS was observed, effect sizes were larger during CWT (large) than during CS (moderate). No changes in blood flow occurred in the femoral artery between hot and cold transitions of CWT. Conclusion: During immediate recovery of a high intensity exercise, CWT and CS trigger higher femoral artery blood flow than PR. Moreover, effect sizes were greater during CWT than during CS.