The Effectiveness of Water Immersion at 15°C, 25°C, and 40°C on Fatigue Levels in Futsal Athletes at Yogyakarta State University

Abstract

Background

Muscle fatigue is a common condition experienced by athletes after intensive training or competition. One widely used recovery method is water immersion at various temperatures, which is believed to help reduce fatigue levels.

Objectives

This study aims to determine the effectiveness of water immersion at temperatures of 15°C, 25°C, and 40°C on fatigue levels in futsal athletes at Yogyakarta State University.

Methods

This study used a quasi-experimental method with a three-group pretest-posttest design. The sample consisted of 12 athletes divided into three treatment groups based on the immersion temperature. Fatigue measurements were conducted before and after treatment using the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale. Data were analyzed using normality tests, homogeneity tests, paired t-tests, and one-way ANOVA.

Results

The results showed that all three groups experienced a significant reduction in fatigue (p < 0.05), with the 15°C immersion group showing the highest effectiveness (87.5%) compared to the 40°C and 25°C groups. ANOVA test showed a significant difference between groups (p = 0.031), with the Post Hoc test indicating that the temperature of 15°C was significantly better than the temperatures of 40°C and 25°C.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that water immersion at a temperature of 15°C is the most effective recovery method in reducing acute muscle fatigue in futsal athletes. These findings can be used as a basis for developing efficient and applicable post-exercise recovery strategies.