The effect of cold water immersion on the recovery of physical performance revisited: A systematic review with meta-analysis

ABSTRACT

This review evaluated the effect of CWI on the temporal recovery profile of physical performance, accounting for environmental conditions and prior exercise modality. Sixty-eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Standardised mean differences were calculated for parameters assessed at <1, 1–6, 24, 48, 72 and ≥96 h post-immersion. CWI improved short-term recovery of endurance performance (p = 0.01, 1 h), but impaired sprint (p = 0.03, 1 h) and jump performance (p = 0.04, 6h). CWI improved longer-term recovery of jump performance (p < 0.01–0.02, 24 h and 96 h) and strength (p < 0.01, 24 h), which coincided with decreased creatine kinase (p < 0.01–0.04, 24–72 h), improved muscle soreness (p < 0.01–0.02, 1–72 h) and perceived recovery (p < 0.01, 72 h). CWI improved the recovery of endurance performance following exercise in warm (p < 0.01) and but not in temperate conditions (p = 0.06). CWI improved strength recovery following endurance exercise performed at cool-to-temperate conditions (p = 0.04) and enhanced recovery of sprint performance following resistance exercise (p = 0.04). CWI seems to benefit the acute recovery of endurance performance, and longer-term recovery of muscle strength and power, coinciding with changes in muscle damage markers. This, however, depends on the nature of the preceding exercise.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Cryotherapy
• regeneration
• post-exercise cooling
• hyperthermia
• muscle damage

Disclosure statement

No potential competing interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and/or its supplementary materials.

Author contributions

Conceptualization and design: CHC and MI; material preparation, data collection and analysis: CHC, MI, ML, VY and WP; writing - original draft preparation: CHC and MI; writing - review and editing: CHC, MI, ML, VP and WP. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported that there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.