The efficacy of recovery care with cool veil serum

doi:10.4236/health.2010.212212

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Vol.2, No.12, 1425-1429 (2010) Health

doi:10.4236/health.2010.212212

The efficacy of recovery care with cool veil serum

Yu Yumoto, Takehiko Yukishita, Keiko Lee, Hiroyuki Kobayashi

Department of Hospital Administration, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan;

*Corresponding Author: yuyumoto1@gmail.com

Received 28 September 2010; revised 18 October 2010; accepted 22 October 2010

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the

efficacy of post-exercise treatment with “Cool

Veil Serum (CVS)” developed by Madre:X Co. Ltd.

(Shibuya, Tokyo) to prevent exercise-induced

muscle swelling. Calf circumferences and mus-

cle stiffness of both legs were measured in 10

healthy female. The measurements were made

on before 5-minute exercise, after the exercise,

and after 10-minute recovery care with CVS and

5-minute rest. The recovery care was applied

only on right leg of the subjects. Then, multiple

comparisons of calf circumference and muscle

stiffness on each leg among pre-exer-

cise, post-exercise, and final measurements

were carried out. Exercise caused a significant

increase in calf circumference and muscle stiff-

ness. The recovery care with CVS rapidly re-

duced post-exercise calf circumference to

pre-exercise level. Relationship between reduc-

ing muscle swelling after exercise and prevent-

ing sport injury should be explored in further

studies.

Keywords: Recovery Care; Cool Veil Serum;

Massage after Exercise; Calf Circumference;

Muscle Stiffness

1. INTRODUCTION

Growing health consciousness in recent years is in-

spiring many people to lead an active lifestyle. Accord-

ing to the 2008 Sports Life Survey, recreationally active

individuals who engage in “moderate intensity exercise

twice a week for 30 min” for health promotion and

maintenance constituted a record-breaking 45.5% of the

population since the survey first began in 1992. In addi-

tion, the number of people participating in physical ac-

tivity and sports has risen to 56.4% [1]; indeed more

than 50 million Japanese people are currently exercising

on a weekly basis.

Meanwhile the 2008 National Health and Nutrition

Survey showed that one in two men and one in five

women aged 40-74 years are afflicted with pre-metabolic

and metabolic syndrome in Jap a n [2]. As dietary changes

and exercise programs become the cornerstones of

treatment for metabolic syndrome, the physically active

population is anticipated to increase further.

The rising exercise trend reflects a shift towards posi-

tive health pr omotion, how ever, a commensurate overall

increase in sports-related injuries and fatigue-induced

pain is expected as well. In general, athletes are more

conscious about post-exercise recovery and have easier

access to knowledgeable trainers and therapists. None-

theless among the collegiate athletes who are educated in

recovery care more so than ordinary people, only half

confess to stretching before and not after workouts [3].

Additionally, the number of certificated athlete trainers

by Japan Sports Association is only 1,356 in Japan [4],

while more than 30,000 athletic trainers belonging to

National Athletic Trainers’ Association are available in

the United States [5]. Therefore, there have been few

non-athletes exercising with certified athletic trainers in

Japan. In light of these findings, recreationally active

people are at higher risk of foregoing post-workout re-

covery care. Consequently this very paucity of aware-

ness and knowledge appears to promote sports injuries.

Despite the importance of post-workout recovery

strategies as lauded by healthcare professionals and ath-

letic trainers, simple post-exercise body care for ordinary

people are currently not available. Accordingly we

created “Cool Veil Serum (CVS)” for post-workout re-

covery care that regular people can routinely use to faci-

litate cool down and prevent fatigue by massaging into

exercised muscles. Our intention is to elevate con-

sciousness about recovery care with a handy product like

CVS that provides additional benefits of protecting the

skin, restoring vitality, and enhancing the circulation. In

the present study, we evaluated the effect of “Cool Veil

Serum” application after a workout in preventing exer-

cise-induced muscle swelling.

Y. Yumoto et al. / Health 2 (2010) 1425-1429

1426

2. MATERIALS & METHODS

2.1. Cool Veil Serum (CVS)

The Body Hygiene Cool Veil Serum was created by

Madre: X Co. Ltd (Shibuya, Tokyo) to deliver a product

that at once prevents fatigue, cools working muscles, and

protects the skin when applied after physical activity.

Ingredients such as BCAA, glutamic acid, alginine, and

citric acid have been blended to hasten recovery. Men-

thol has been added to cool muscles. In addition, this

lotion has been enrich ed with skin emolliating microcol-

lagen and hyaluronic acid and rend ers the dual benefit of

nourishing the skin and improving blood and lymph flow

when applied on working muscles. Hydrangeic acid, a

compound derived from Hydrangea macrophylla var.

thunbergii, has been reported to upregulate adiponectin

expression and thereby reduce triglycerides and blood

glucose levels [6], potentially halting the genesis of me-

tabolic syndrome.

2.2. Study Participants

Ten healthy, regularly active female subjects aged

21-35 participated in the study after providing oral con-

sent. Individuals who are pregnant or possibly pregnant,

or unable to perform weight-bearing exercises were ex-

cluded from the study.

2.3. Methods

We used five steps to study t he efficacy of post -exerci se

recovery care with CVS.

1) Pre-exercise (baseline) measurements

The present study was conducted at our research in-

stitute. Baseline calf circumference and muscle stiffness

of both legs were measured before the test exercise. The

circumference of the most prominent aspect of the ga-

strocnemius muscle served as the reference body part.

The gastrocnemius circumference was measured by hand

and NEUTONE muscle hardness tester (TRY-ALL

COPORATION, TDM-NAI, Chiba, Japan) was em-

ployed to evaluate muscle stiffness. A semi-permanent

ink pen was used to create landmarks on the skin of the

gastrocnemius to allow repeated measures to be taken at

the same location each time. Final measurements were

taken after confirming the reliability of test methods

through several practice measurements.

2) Weight-bearing exercise for the lower legs

Each participant performed 150 bilateral h eel lifts in a

temperature-controlled (23C) room. A trainer supervised

the 5-min test exercise to ensure that stress load and pace

of all participants were consistent.

3) Post-exercise measurements

The gastrocnemius circumference and muscle stiff-

ness were measured immediately after the heel lift test

exercise.

4) Recovery care with CVS

Following post-exercise measurements, each partici-

pant performed a 10-min self-application with CVS only

on the right leg. The left leg, served as control, was in

rest position during the right-leg recovery care. Recov-

ery care was performed as follows:

a) Apply 10 ml of CVS to right posterior calf and

thigh slowly (repeat 20 times for about 7 min).

b) Apply 10 ml of CVS to right lateral shin and thigh

slowly (repeat 10 times for about 3 min).

5) Final measurements

The final calf circumference and muscle stiffness were

measured after the 10-min self-application and 5-min

rest.

2.4. Data Analysis

Student’s t-test was used to determine pre-exercise

difference between the legs. As the leg-to-leg compari-

son model was used to determine the efficacy of test

lotion (CVS) in recovery care, our analysis thence pro-

ceeded on the assumption that baseline measurements

did not reveal striking left-right differences.

Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA)

and Turkey’s method of multiple comparisons were run

to capture the differences among pre-exercise,

post-exercise, and final measurements. Statistical signi-

ficance was set at P < 0.05 for all analyses. Data analysis

was performed using a statistical software package

(SPSS Ve r. 11.5).

3. RESULT

3.1. Results of Measurements

Table 1 summarizes the pre-exercise, post-exercise,

and final measurements of the gastrocnemius of the 10

study participants. (Table 1-1: Calf circu mference, Table

1-2: Calf stiffness)

3.2. Left-Right Pre-Exercise Differences

No significant differences were found in baseline cir-

cumference and stiffness between the legs (calf circum-

ference: p = 0.835, muscle stiffness: p = 0.884). We

therefore treated the two sides as symmetrical and con-

ducted further analysis based on these fin di n gs.

3.3. Comparisons among Pre-Exercise,

Post-Exercise, and Final Measurements

3.3.1. Calf circumference

Figure 1 depicts the means of pre-exercise, post-

Y. Yumoto et al. / Health 2 (2010) 1425-1429

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Table 1-1. Right and left calf circumferences of the subjects on pre-exercise, post-exercise and final measurements (N = 10).

CVS(Right) Control(Left)

Subjects Age Pre-exercise Post-exercise FinalPre-exercise Post-exercise Final

1 19 33.0 33.2 32.4 32.8 33.4 32.6

2 24 34.3 35.7 34.1 34.8 36.3 35.5

3 28 34.4 35.0 34.2 34.0 34.6 34.2

4 28 32.9 34.0 33.5 34.0 33.8 34.0

5 28 31.0 31.0 30.4 31.5 31.5 31.5

6 35 34.5 34.9 34.4 34.6 35.2 34.7

7 31 33.5 34.1 33.6 32.0 34.0 33.4

8 31 34.5 35.5 34.8 33.2 35.0 34.7

9 31 35.2 36.6 36.2 35.5 36.9 36.6

10 31 38.2 39.7 38.1 37.4 39.4 38.4

Average 28.6 34.2 35.0 34.2 34.0 35.0 34.6

SD 4.5 1.9 2.3 2.1 1.7 2.2 2.0

Table 1-2. Right and left calf muscle stiffness of the subjects on pre-exercise, post-exercise and final measurements (N = 10).

CVS(Right) Control(Left)

Subjects Age Pre-exercise Post-exercise FinalPre-exercise Post-exercise Final

1 19 33.5 34.0 34.0 33.0 35.0 34.0

2 24 29.0 30.5 30.0 28.0 30.0 29.5

3 28 32.0 34.0 32.0 33.0 37.0 34.0

4 28 30.0 32.0 30.0 31.0 34.0 32.0

5 28 34.0 39.0 37.0 34.0 38.5 37.5

6 35 31.0 32.0 31.0 31.0 32.5 31.0

7 31 28.5 29.0 28.5 28.5 30.0 29.0

8 31 35.0 34.0 32.0 34.0 33.0 33.0

9 31 31.0 33.0 31.0 31.0 34.0 32.0

10 31 28.0 34.0 33.0 30.0 34.0 34.0

Average 28.6 31.2 33.2 31.9 31.4 33.8 32.6

SD 4.5 2.4 2.7 2.4 2.1 2.7 2.5

exercise and final circumference. Significant baseline

and post-exercise differences (left and right: p < 0.001)

confirmed that exercise caused a marked increase in calf

circumference. The mean circumference of the CVS-

applied (right) leg was significantly less compared with

the mean of post-exercise circumference (p < 0.001). In

contrast, the control (left) leg did not show a striking

difference between post-exercise and final circumference

(p = 0.090). Moreover, the final circumference of the left

leg was significantly greater than pre-exercise circumfe-

rence (p = 0.025).

3.3.2. Muscle Stiffness

The means of pre-exercise, post-exercise, and final

stiffness are evident in Figure 2. Significant lateralized

differences between pre- and post-exercise stiffness (left:

p < 0.001, right: p = 0.007) confirmed that exercise in-

duced prominent muscle stiffness. A small difference

was noted between the means of post-exercise and final

stiffness of the CVS-applied (right) leg, albeit statisti-

cally insignificant (p = 0.080). In contrast, the control

(left) leg showed a significant difference between post-

exercise and post-immobilization muscle stiffness (p =

0.035). Unlike the right leg, stiffness of the left leg re-

mained significantly greater after immobilization com-

pared with basel i ne (p = 0.02 7).

4. DISCUSSION

We found that recovery care with CVS rapidly re-

Y. Yumoto et al. / Health 2 (2010) 1425-1429

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Figure 1. Multiple comparisons among pre-exercise, post-

exercise and final measurements of right and left calf circum-

ferences (*: p < 0.05, **: p < 0.01).

Figure 2. Multiple comparisons among pre-exercise, post-

exercise and final measurements of right and left calf muscle

stiffness (*: p < 0.05, **: p < 0.01).

stored post-exercise calf circumference to baseline level.

Exercise caused a significant increase in calf circumfe-

rence and muscle stiffness (calf circumference: right and

left: p < 0.001, muscle stiffness: left: p < 0.001, right: p

= 0.007). The main cause of increased calf circumfe-

rence was augmented blood flow and retention of tissue

fluids in the working muscles. The major factors that led

to greater stiffness included shortening of muscle tissue,

changes in tensile strength of the muscle fibers, and ac-

cumulation of blood and body fluids.

The final circumference of the CVS-applied (right)

leg reduced significantly compared with post-exercise

circumference (p < 0.001), to a near baseline level. With

respect to final stiffness, a trend towards improvement to

a near baseline level was observed when compared with

post-exercise stiffness, yet the difference was not signif-

icant (p = 0.080). We surmised that CVS application

promoted the reduction in calf circumference and muscle

stiffness by relaxing shortened muscle tissues and im-

proving circulation.

In contrast, the circumference of the control leg de-

creased to a certain level after the exercise; however, it

remained significantly greater than baseline even after

15 minutes of stopping the exercise (p = 0.025). A sig-

nificant improvement in stiffness was observed after

immobilization (p = 0.035); nevertheless the level of

stiffness remained significantly greater than baseline 15

minutes after the exercise (p = 0.027). These results

suggest that natural recovery via immobilization did not

recover stiffness to the baseline level.

Our results suggest that recovery care with CVS mar-

kedly reduces calf circumference, but the correlation

between reduced calf size and amelioration of muscle

pain and fatigue after physical activity remain unex-

plained. In this study, we evaluated the acute effects of

CVS in recovery, but further studies are warranted to

investigate the effect of recovery care in muscle pain and

fatigue one day after the workout. Several divergent

views abound regarding the efficacy of stretching and

massage for post-workout recovery. While stretching has

been promoted for years as an essential part of a fitness

program, Herbet et al. reported that post-exercise stret-

ching failed to prevent muscle pain [7,8]. Moreover,

Thacker et al. refuted the benefits of stretching before

and after a workout in preventing sports injuries [9].

Furthermore, Johnhagen et al. reported that centripetal

sports massage after physical activity did not lead to

functional recovery of the muscles [10].

In contrast, Mastubashi et al. reported that stretching

was effective in reducing muscle stiffness after a wor-

kout [11]. However, Matsubashi also cautioned that self-

stretch had no effect on muscle stiffness and that notice-

able improvement required proficiency in techniques

[11]. Our particular method of recovery care did not yield a

significant improvement in muscle stiffness; however, a

more accurate evaluation of stiffness may be obtained by

revising the methodology and conducting an assessment

after repeated intervention.

Although our results confirm the general efficacy of

recovery care with CVS, the effect of glutamic and citric

acid-containing CVS itself requires further evaluation.

For this purpose, a comparative analysis of recovery care

with vaseline is necessary in the future. A more stringent

evaluation under controlled environment is required to

eliminate the blind faith in the effectiveness of post-

exercise stretching and massage held by some of the

health care professionals, athletic trainers and therapists.

5. CONCLUSION

We conducted a post-workout recovery care with CVS

to investigate its effect in preventing sports injury and

hastening recovery, and measured calf circumference

Y. Yumoto et al. / Health 2 (2010) 1425-1429

1429

and muscle stiffness before and after the intervention.

Our results showed that recovery care with CVS induced

a significant reduction in calf circumference to

pre-exercise level.

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