Abstract
Objectives
To determine the associations between post-game recovery protocols and physical and
perceptual recovery, and game performance in Australian Football League players.
Design
A longitudinal quasi-experimental study design was used across a season.
Methods
A full squad of 44 footballers was monitored weekly across a 23-game season. Players
were required to choose from a number of recovery modalities available immediately
post-game. These included floor stretching, pool stretching, bike active recovery,
pool active recovery, cold-water immersion, contrast therapy and use of a compression
garment. Perceptual measures of recovery were recorded throughout the week and a test
of physical performance was conducted two days post-game. Game performance ratings
were also recorded. The associations between the post-game recovery protocols chosen
and players’ perceived recovery, and physical and game performances were determined
by the association rule data-mining strategy.
Results
Statistically significant associations were found between a number of post-game recovery
protocols and perceptual recovery. In general, players who chose cold-water immersion,
floor stretching, no active recovery (neither bike or pool) and the use of a compression
garment post-game, had an increased probability of reporting greater perceptual recovery
across the following week, relative to all other permutations of recovery protocols
chosen. There were no associations found between post-game recovery protocol combinations
and physical recovery. No associations were found between the post-game recovery methods
and the next game performance.
Conclusions
Perceptual recovery among players was enhanced through the selection of specific combinations
of recovery protocols post game. However, no links were found between recovery protocols
and physical or game performance measures.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 25, 2012
Accepted:
May 22,
2012
Received in revised form:
May 14,
2012
Received:
May 18,
2011
Identification
Copyright
© 2012 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
