N.I. Arovah, D.A.T. Putri
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an active recovery technique based on proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) on parameters indicating fatigue among male and female karate athletes. Methods: This research was a 2 × 2 factorial design in 60 karate athletes (50% male), assigned into four groups (i.e., male active recovery [AR], female AR, male passive recovery [PR], and female PR groups). Pre-test HR (heart rate), RPE (rating of perceived exertion), and TQR (total quality recovery) were assessed after a 60-minute submaximal karate-specific exercise. It was followed by a 15-minute recovery, in which the AR groups conducted a 2.5-minute light-intensity PNF and post-test. Paired t-tests were used to compare the pre- and post-test data in each group. Two-way ANOVA was used to assess the post-test data using recovery types and sex as fixed factors and pre-test as the covariate. Results: Significant reductions in HR from pre- to post-test were found in all groups (P < 0.01). No main and interaction effect, however, was found for post-test HR. Improvements in RPE from pre-test to post-test were also found in all groups (P < 0.01). Post-test RPE, however, was significantly lower in the AR (P = 0.002) and in males (P = 0.005). Significant improvements in the post- from pre-test in TQR were also found in all groups (P < 0.01). Post-test QTR is significantly better in the AR (P < 0.001) and in both sexes (P = 0.368). Conclusion: Both PNF-based recovery and passive recovery improve HR, RPE, and TQR. Although PNF-based recovery does not improve the post-test HR compared to PR, it improves RPE and TQR compared to PR. PNF-based recovery, thus, is recommended for improving fatigue recovery in karate athletes. © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS
Department of Sports Science, Faculty of Sports and Health Science, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Colombo Street No 1, Karang Malang, Yogyakarta, 55221, Indonesia
