AUTHOR=Xiao Feiyan , Kabachkova Anastasiia V. , Jiao Lu , Zhao Huan , Kapilevich Leonid V. 

TITLE=Effects of cold water immersion after exercise on fatigue recovery and exercise performance--meta analysis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1006512

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2023.1006512

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=This systematic review aims to examine the effect of cold water immersion (CWI) on fatigue recovery after high-intensity exercise and exercise performance. A total of 20 studies were included in this review. Analyses of subjective indicators such as delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and objective indicators such as countermovement jump (CMJ) and blood plasma markers including creatine kinase(CK), lactate/lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), C-reactive protein(CRP), and IL-6 were performed. Pooled data showed as follows: CWI resulted in a significant decline in subjective characteristics (delayed-onset muscle soreness and perceived exertion at 0 h); CWI reduced countermovement jump(CMJ) significantly at 0 h, creatine kinase(CK) was lowered at 24 h, and lactate at 24 and 48 h. There was no evidence that CWI affects C-reactive protein(CRP) and IL-6 during a 48-h recovery period. Subgroup analysis revealed that different CWI sites and water temperatures have no effect on post-exercise fatigue recovery.