Recovery Optimization Intervention to Reduce the Risk of Injuries in Soccer Players

Recovery Optimization Intervention to Reduce the Risk of Injuries in Soccer Players

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate if recovery interventions using cold and hot water immersion can reduce the risk of injuries in amateur soccer players.

The main questions it aims to answer are:

Do cold water immersions reduce muscle fatigue and improve performance more effectively than hot water immersions? What is the optimal timing and duration for these recovery interventions to maximize their effectiveness?

Researchers will compare:

Cold Water Immersion (CWI) Hot Water Immersion (HWI) No Immersion (NI) Thermographic Immersion (TI) based on individual thermal profiles

Participants will:

Undergo thermographic assessments to determine their thermal profiles. Perform physical tests such as isometric strength tests, countermovement jumps (CMJ), and squats with 50% body weight.

Complete wellness questionnaires to assess their subjective recovery and fatigue levels.

Provide blood and urine samples for biomarker analysis. Participate in recovery interventions (CWI, HWI, or TI) based on their assigned group.

Inclusion Criteria:

Age: Participants must be adults (18 years or older). Gender: Both male and female participants are eligible. Sport: Participants must be amateur football players. Team Membership: Participants must be members of a football team in the Castilla-La Mancha regional category.

Consent: Participants must provide written informed consent to participate in the study.

Health: Participants must be in good general health, with no chronic illnesses or conditions that would contraindicate participation in physical activity or water immersion.

Exclusion Criteria:

Injury: Participants who have sustained an injury that prevents them from participating in football activities for at least two weeks during any of the study blocks.

Medical Conditions: Participants with medical conditions that contraindicate water immersion (e.g., severe cardiovascular conditions, open wounds, skin infections).

Withdrawal: Participants who choose to withdraw from the study at any point. Non-compliance: Participants who do not comply with the study protocol or fail to attend scheduled sessions.

Pregnancy: Female participants who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study period.