The Effect of Submaximal Exercise Followed by Short-Term Cold-Water Immersion on the Inflammatory State in Healthy Recreational Athletes: A Cross-Over Study

Abstract

Cold-water immersion (CWI) after exercise is a method used by sportsmen to improve recovery. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of a 3 min CWI on the inflammatory state by measuring levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), and activities of α1-antitrypsin (AAT) and lysosomal enzymes, including arylsulfatase (ASA), acid phosphatase (AcP), and cathepsin D (CTS D), in the blood of healthy recreational athletes. Male volunteers (n = 22, age 25 ± 4.8 yr) performed a 30 min submaximal aerobic exercise, followed by a 20 min rest at room temperature (RT-REST) or a 20 min rest at room temperature with an initial 3 min 8 °C water bath (CWI-REST). Blood samples were taken at baseline, immediately after exercise, and after 20 min of recovery. The IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α levels and the AAT activity increased significantly immediately after exercise. The IL-6 level was significantly higher after CWI-REST than after RT-REST. No changes in the activities of the lysosomal enzymes were observed. The effect of a 3 min CWI on the level of inflammatory markers during post-exercise recovery was limited. Thus, it might be considered as a widely available method of regeneration for recreational athletes.

Keywords: cold-water immersion; cytokines; exercise; inflammation; lysosomal enzymes; recovery; regeneration method.

Figure 1

The concentrations of selected cytokines in blood serum of the subjects (young healthy recreational athletes, n = 22) during the experiment: (a) IL-6 concentration; (b) IL-10 concentration; (c) TNF-α concentration; (d) TGF-β1 concentration. Data are presented as the means ± SD. IL-6—interleukin 6, IL-10—interleukin 10, TNF-α—tumor necrosis factor α, TGF-β1—transforming growth factor β1, BE—before exercise, AF—after exercise, RT-REST—20 min recovery at room temperature, CWI-REST—20 min recovery at room temperature combined with 3 min cold-water immersion, * p < 0.05 vs. BE, ** p < 0.001 vs. BE, ▲ p < 0.05 vs. AE, ▲▲ p < 0.001 vs. AE, ● p < 0.001 vs. RT-REST.

Figure 2

The activities of α1-antytrypsin and lysosomal enzymes in blood serum of the subjects (young healthy recreational athletes, n = 22) during the experiment: (a) AAT activity; (b) CTS D activity; (c) AcP activity; (d) ASA activity. Data are presented as the means ± SD. AAT—α1-antytrypsin, CTS D—cathepsin D, AcP—acid phosphatase, ASA—arylsulfatase, BE—before exercise, AF—after exercise, RT-REST—20-min recovery at room temperature, CWI-REST—20-min recovery at room temperature combined with 3-min cold-water immersion, * p < 0.05 vs. BE.