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. 2023 Jan 20:14:1006512.
doi: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1006512. eCollection 2023.

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

Feiyan Xiao  1 , Anastasiia V Kabachkova  1 , Lu Jiao  1 , Huan Zhao  2 , Leonid V Kapilevich  1   3
Affiliations

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

Feiyan Xiao et al. Front Physiol. .

Abstract

Cold water immersion (CWI) is very popular as a method reducing post-exercise muscle stiffness, eliminating fatigue, decreasing exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), and recovering sports performance. However, there are conflicting opinions as to whether CWI functions positively or negatively. The mechanisms of CWI are still not clear. In this systematic review, we used meta-analysis aims to examine the effect of CWI on fatigue recovery after high-intensity exercise and exercise performance. A total of 20 studies were retrieved and included from PubMed, PEDro and Elsevier databases in this review. Publication years of articles ranged from 2002 to 2022. In selected studies including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and Crossover design (COD). 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. Recommended athletes immersed in cold water immediately after exercise, which can effectively reduce muscle soreness and accelerate fatigue recovery.

Keywords: cold water immersion; delayed-onset muscle soreness; exercise fatigue; exercise-induced soreness; fatigue recovery measures.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flow-chart describing the systematic review procedure.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Risk of bias graph for all included studies.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Risk of bias summary for all included studies.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Forest plot of the comparison of CWI versus CON for measurement of CMJ. CWI = Cold water immersion, CON = Control, CMJ = countermovement jump.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Forest plot of the comparison of CWI versus CON for measurement of DOMS. CWI = Cold water immersion, CON = Control, DOMS = delayed-onset muscle soreness.
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 6
Forest plot of the comparison of CWI versus CON for measurement of RPE. CWI = Cold water immersion, CON = Control, RPE = rate of perceived exertion.
FIGURE 7
FIGURE 7
Forest plot of the comparison of CWI versus CON for measurement of CK. CWI = Cold water immersion, CON = Control, CK = creatine kinase.
FIGURE 8
FIGURE 8
Forest plot of the comparison of CWI versus CON for measurement of Lactate. CWI = Cold water immersion, CON = Control.
FIGURE 9
FIGURE 9
Forest plot of the comparison of CWI versus CON for measurement of CRP. CWI = Cold water immersion, CON = Control, CRP = C-Reactive Protein.
FIGURE 10
FIGURE 10
Forest plot of the comparison of CWI versus CON for measurement of IL-6.CWI = Cold water immersion, CON = Control, IL-6 = Interleukin 6.
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