Blood lactate clearance as a measure of recovery using NormaTec boots

Abstract

The NormaTec Pulse 2.0 Recovery System is a recovery modality that has gained popularity amongst athletes recently. The purpose of this research was to compare blood lactate (BLa) clearance with the NormaTec Pulse 2.0 Recovery System compared to active and passive recovery. Fourteen subjects performed a VO2max test on a cycle ergometer, which was used to find peak power output (PPO) and ventilatory threshold (VT). The subjects then performed three Tabata workouts immediately followed by a 30-minute recovery period (NormaTec, active, passive), in random order. Blood lactate clearance for both the NormaTec and active recovery conditions was significantly faster than passive recovery at the 5, 10, 20, 25, 30-minute measurement periods (p<0.05). Active recovery cleared BLa significantly faster than NormaTec at the 15, 20, 25, 30-minute measurement periods. There was no significant difference between active recovery and NormaTec within 10-minutes. On both the TQRS and VAS recovery questionnaires, subjects felt significantly more recovered immediately following the active recovery compared to the passive and NormaTec recovery conditions. The NormaTec Pulse 2.0 Recovery System was more effective at clearing BLa than passive recovery, but after 10 minutes is not as effective as active recovery.