The effect of ice baths on creatine kinase (CK) levels following physical training in female footballers

Abstract

Objective: Creatine kinase (CK) levels can increase, leading to cell and tissue damage after physical training. The ice bath is indicated as one of the methods that can be used to suppress the increase in CK. This study aimed to explore the impact of ice baths on creatine kinase levels after physical training in female football players.

Materials and Methods: This research was an experimental study that included 20 women football athletes and was divided into two groups (an ice bath and a thermoneutral bath). Blood sampling was carried out before and 24 hours after physical exercise. The CK level was measured using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) test. An ice bath was given to both lower legs. The ice bath was done for 15 minutes at a temperature of 15 degrees Celsius. The non-parametric test was applied to identify the effect of each treatment on the CK level and the difference between both. Effect test using Wilcoxon test and Paired Samples test, and effect difference test using Mann-Whitney test.

Results: Comparing within group, both groups showed a reduction of the CK level (p=0.000). Significant difference was observed (p=0.001). The ice bath was more effective in suppressing the increase in CK levels than the thermoneutral bath, with reductions of 26.8% and 52.6%, respectively.

Conclusion: The increase in CK levels could be inhibited by an ice bath after exercise, thus could help to avoid cell and tissue damage.