Assessment of the Impact of Heat-Compression Therapy Time on Muscle Biomechanical Properties and Forearm Tissue Perfusion in MMA Fighters—A Pilot Study

Background: The study aimed to evaluate the immediate effect of Heat-Compression-Therapy with Game Ready equipment (GR-HCT) on biomechanical properties at different treatment times. Reducing the duration of stimulation through HCT can help optimize recovery processes in sports. Methods: Twenty male MMA fighters (26.5 ± 4.5 years, BMI 24.75 ± 3.0, training experience: 10.3 ± 5.0 years) performed two experimental sessions: (a) 5 min heat-compression therapy (HCT) stimulation (GR-HCT-5); and (b) 10 min heat-compression therapy (GR-HCT-10). All registered parameters, tissue perfusion (PU), tissue temperature (°C), muscle tone (T-Hz) stiffness (S—N/m), elasticity (E—arb), pressure pain threshold (PPT—N/cm) and isometric muscle strength (Fmax—kgf), were measured at rest (r—2 min before GR-HCT stimulation) and 1 min after GR-HCT (p-post) for the flexor carpi radialis muscle (MFCR) and the brachioradialis muscle (MBR). Results: The Friedman’s test for MBR revealed significant differences between GR-HCT5min vs. GR-HCT10min for PU ( p < 0.0001), S ( p = 0.008), and for MBR and MFCR for °C ( p < 0.0001). The pairwise comparisons for PU, S, and °C showed significant differences between rest vs. post values for 5 min as well as between rest vs. post values for 10 min. Further, there was a significant interaction effect (5 min-10 min × Rest-Post p < 0.0001) for PU for MFCR. The post hoc comparison for the interaction effect showed significantly higher PU for post- compared to premeasurement in 5 min PU and 10 min PU ( p < 0.001). Further, there was a significant main effect of condition for Fmax both for MFCR and MBR (5 min vs. 10 min p < 0.001); The post hoc comparison for the main effect of condition showed a significantly higher Fmax for post- compared to premeasurement in 5 min and 10 min ( p < 0.001). Further, there was a significant main effect of condition for pressure pain threshold [N/cm] both for MFCR and MBR and for T for MBR time of measurement rest vs. post ( p < 0.001; p = 0.006; p < ...