Postexercise Physical Recovery Methods for Combat Sports: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Exercise Physiology
• Combat Sports Medicine

Background:

• Combat sports (CS) demand rigorous training, necessitating effective post-exercise recovery strategies.
• Understanding the efficacy of various recovery modalities is crucial for optimizing athlete performance and health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and synthesize the effects of post-exercise recovery methods on biochemical, physiological, and physical outcomes in combat sports athletes.
• To evaluate the impact of active and passive recovery techniques on performance metrics and physiological markers.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review of 27 articles involving 554 combat sports athletes.
• Searches conducted across major scientific databases (PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science).
• Inclusion of studies with experimental and quasi-experimental designs assessing recovery methods against controls, with quality and bias assessment.

Main Results:

• Recovery methods demonstrated mixed effects on biochemical markers; active recovery effectively reduced acute lactate levels.
• Compression and dry needling showed benefits in enhancing pain threshold, perfusion, and muscle tone at 24-48 hours post-intervention.
• Most recovery strategies had minimal immediate impact on performance, with few outperforming passive recovery at the 24-hour mark.

Conclusions:

• While various recovery methods are employed in combat sports, their benefits for biochemical and physical outcomes appear limited.
• Active recovery facilitates lactate clearance, and modalities like compression and dry needling provide specific physiological advantages at 24-48 hours.
• Coaches should consider athlete preferences, training demands, and recovery timelines when implementing these strategies for metabolic and muscle recovery.