Ice Decreases Muscle Performance
Ice is a valuable therapy for decreasing inflammation, pain and swelling. However, using it during exercise or athletic competition (e.g., while sitting on the sideline) could decrease performance and increase the risk of injury. Ice decreases muscle and nerve metabolism, slows nerve conduction speed, and impairs the rate of muscle activation. Researchers from Old Dominion University, led by Jennifer Fischer, found that applying an ice bag on the hamstrings for 10 minutes decreased performance in the shuttle run, single-leg vertical jump, and co-contraction test. The effects lasted for at least 20 minutes after exercise. Applying ice for 3 minutes had no effect on performance. Ice is a valuable modality for treating injuries and trauma during recovery from physical activity, but should not be used before or during exercise. (Journal Strength Conditioning Research, in press; published online December 2008)
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