Immediate Effect of Compression Contrast Therapy on Quadriceps Femoris Muscles' Regeneration in MMA Fighters.

This study aimed to evaluate the immediate effect of Game Ready (GR) heat-cold compression contrast therapy (HCCT) on changes in the biomechanical parameters of the quadriceps femoris muscles and tissue perfusion. Fifteen male MMA fighters were subjected to HCCT on the dominant leg's thigh and control sham therapy on the other. The experimental intervention used a pressure cuff with the following parameters: time-20 min; pressure-25-75 mmHg; and temp.-3-45°C, changing every 2 min. For the control group, the temp. of sham therapy was 15-36 °C, and pressure was 15-25 mmHg, changing every 2 min. Measurements were taken on the head of the rectus femoris muscle (RF) 5 min before therapy, 5 min after, and 1 h after therapy in the same order in all participants: microcirculatory response (PU), muscle tension (MT), stiffness (S), flexibility (E), tissue temperature (°C), and pressure pain threshold (PPT). The analysis revealed significant differences between the HCCT and sham therapy groups and the measurement time (rest vs. post 5 min and post 1 h) for PU, MT, E, and °C ( < 0.00001) (a significant effect of time was found) in response to GR therapy. No significant differences were found for the PPT. The results of this study prove that GR HCCT evokes changes in the biomechanical parameters of the RF muscles and perfusion in professional MMA fighters.