THE EFFECTS OF THE MODIFIED INTERMITTENT SEQUENTIAL PNEUMATIC DEVICE (MISPD) ON EXERCISE PERFORMANCE FOLLOWING AN EXHAUSTIVE EXERCISE BOUT

The Lymphapress, a pneumatic sequential intermittent device is recogni zed as one of the most effective conservative treatments for lymphoede ma, due to its effective 'milking mechanism'. This led us to hypothesi ze that accelerated removal of fatigue-causing metabolites by mechanic al massage could improve an athlete's performance capacity. We conduct ed trials with 11 men who exercised at a constant workload, on a cycle ergometer, until exhaustion. During a 20-min recovery period a new mo dified pneumatic sequential intermittent device (the MISPD) was applie d to the subjects' legs. The men then performed a second constant load exercise bout. Cardiorespiratory parameters were measured during exer cise and blood was withdrawn during recovery for the determination of lactate, pyruvate, ammonia, bicarbonate and pH. No difference was foun d in the blood levels of the 'fatigue causing metabolites' during pass ive recovery (PR) and recovery with the MISPD (MR). However, the MISPD effected a 45% improvement in the subjects' ability to perform the su bsequent exercise bout. The accumulation of fluid in the interstitial spate after exercise and its disappearance after the use of the MISPD offers one possible explanation for these results, although psychologi cal effects cannot be discounted.