The effect of various cold-water immersion protocols on exercise-induced inflammatory response and functional recovery from high-intensity sprint exercise

Exercise conducted in hot, humid environments increases the risk for exertional heat stroke (EHS). The current recommended treatment of EHS is cold-water immersion; however, limitations may require the use of alternative resources such as a cold shower (CS) or dousing with a hose to cool EHS patients.Context: To investigate the cooling effectiveness of a CS after exercise-induced hyperthermia.Objective: Randomized, crossover controlled study.Design: Environmental chamber (temperature = 33.4°C ± 2.1°C; relative humidity = 27.1% ± 1.4%).Setting: Seventeen participants (10 male, 7 female; height = 1.75 ± 0.07 m, body mass = 70.4 ± 8.7 kg, body surface area = 1.85 ± 0.13 m2, age range = 19–35 years) volunteered.Patients or Other Participants: On 2 occasions, participants completed matched-intensity volitional exercise on an ergometer or treadmill to elevate rectal temperature to ≥39°C or until participant fatigue prevented continuation (reaching at least 38.5°C). They were then either treated with a CS (20.8°C ± 0.80°C) or seated in the chamber (control [CON] condition) for 15 minutes.Intervention(s): Rectal temperature, calculated cooling rate, heart rate, and perceptual measures (thermal sensation and perceived muscle pain).Main Outcome Measure(s): The rectal temperature (P = .98), heart rate (P = .85), thermal sensation (P = .69), and muscle pain (P = .31) were not different during exercise for the CS and CON trials (P > .05). Overall, the cooling rate was faster during CS (0.07°C/min ± 0.03°C/min) than during CON (0.04°C/min ± 0.03°C/min; t16 = 2.77, P = .01). Heart-rate changes were greater during CS (45 ± 20 beats per minute) compared with CON (27 ± 10 beats per minute; t16 = 3.32, P = .004). Thermal sensation was reduced to a greater extent with CS than with CON (F3,45 = 41.12, P < .001).Results: Although the CS facilitated cooling rates faster than no treatment, clinicians should continue to advocate for accepted cooling modalities and use CS only if no other validated means of cooling are available.Conclusions:

Download Full-text

Does Post Exercise Cold Water Immersion Alter Intramuscular Hsp72 After 4 Weeks Of High Intensity Interval Training?

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise ◽

10.1249/01.mss.0000476770.55695.ed ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 47 ◽

pp. 132

Author(s):

Fabiano Amorim ◽

Paula Aguiar ◽

Sílvia Magalhães ◽

Craig Crandall ◽

Etel Rocha-Vieira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Intensity ◽

Cold Water ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Interval Training ◽

Cold Water Immersion ◽

High Intensity Interval Training ◽

Post Exercise ◽

High Intensity Interval

Download Full-text

Post-exercise cold-water immersion increases Na+,K+-ATPase α2-isoform mRNA content in parallel with elevated Sp1 expression in human skeletal muscle

10.1101/151100 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Danny Christiansen ◽

Robyn M. Murphy ◽

James R. Broatch ◽

Jens Bangsbo ◽

Michael J. McKenna ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Human Skeletal Muscle ◽

Cold Water ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Redox Homeostasis ◽

Cold Water Immersion ◽

Post Exercise ◽

Interval Exercise ◽

Mrna Content ◽

Exercise Induced

AbstractWe investigated the effect of a session of sprint-interval exercise on the mRNA content of NKA isoforms (α1-3, β1-3) and FXYD1 in human skeletal muscle. To explore some of the cellular stressors involved in this regulation, we evaluated the association between these mRNA responses and those of the transcription factors Sp1, Sp3 and HIF-1α. Given cold exposure perturbs muscle redox homeostasis, which may be one mechanism important for increases in NKA-isoform mRNA, we also explored the effect of post-exercise cold-water immersion (CWI) on the mRNA responses. Muscle was sampled from nineteen men before (Pre) and after (+0h, +3h) exercise plus passive rest (CON, n=10) or CWI (10°C; COLD, n=9). In COLD, exercise increased NKAα2 and Sp1 mRNA (+0h, p<0.05). These genes remained unchanged in CON (p>0.05). In both conditions, exercise increased NKAα1, NKAβ3 and HIF-1α mRNA (+3h; p <0.05), decreased NKAβ2 mRNA (+3h; p<0.05), whereas NKAα3, NKAβ1, FXYD1 and Sp3 mRNA remained unchanged (p>0.05). These human findings highlight 1) sprint-interval exercise increases the mRNA content of NKA α1 and β3, and decreases that of NKA β2, which may relate, in part, to exercise-induced muscle hypoxia, and 2) post-exercise CWI augments NKAα2 mRNA, which may be associated with promoted Sp1 activation.

Download Full-text

Adaptations to Post-exercise Cold Water Immersion: Friend, Foe, or Futile?

Frontiers in Sports and Active Living ◽

10.3389/fspor.2021.714148 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

Author(s):

Mohammed Ihsan ◽

Chris R. Abbiss ◽

Robert Allan

Keyword(s):

Exercise Performance ◽

Cold Water ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Endurance Performance ◽

Cold Water Immersion ◽

Peroxisome Proliferator ◽

Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor ◽

Post Exercise ◽

Exercise Induced ◽

Post Exercise Recovery

In the last decade, cold water immersion (CWI) has emerged as one of the most popular post-exercise recovery strategies utilized amongst athletes during training and competition. Following earlier research on the effects of CWI on the recovery of exercise performance and associated mechanisms, the recent focus has been on how CWI might influence adaptations to exercise. This line of enquiry stems from classical work demonstrating improved endurance and mitochondrial development in rodents exposed to repeated cold exposures. Moreover, there was strong rationale that CWI might enhance adaptations to exercise, given the discovery, and central role of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) in both cold- and exercise-induced oxidative adaptations. Research on adaptations to post-exercise CWI have generally indicated a mode-dependant effect, where resistance training adaptations were diminished, whilst aerobic exercise performance seems unaffected but demonstrates premise for enhancement. However, the general suitability of CWI as a recovery modality has been the focus of considerable debate, primarily given the dampening effect on hypertrophy gains. In this mini-review, we highlight the key mechanisms surrounding CWI and endurance exercise adaptations, reiterating the potential for CWI to enhance endurance performance, with support from classical and contemporary works. This review also discusses the implications and insights (with regards to endurance and strength adaptations) gathered from recent studies examining the longer-term effects of CWI on training performance and recovery. Lastly, a periodized approach to recovery is proposed, where the use of CWI may be incorporated during competition or intensified training, whilst strategically avoiding periods following training focused on improving muscle strength or hypertrophy.

Download Full-text

Postexercise cold-water immersion improves intermittent high-intensity exercise performance in normothermia

Applied Physiology Nutrition and Metabolism ◽

10.1139/apnm-2016-0275 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 41 (11) ◽

pp. 1163-1170 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Avina McCarthy ◽

James Mulligan ◽

Mikel Egaña

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Oxygen Uptake ◽

Core Temperature ◽

High Intensity ◽

Perceived Exertion ◽

Cold Water ◽

Intermittent Exercise ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Cold Water Immersion ◽

High Intensity Exercise

A brief cold water immersion between 2 continuous high-intensity exercise bouts improves the performance of the latter compared with passive recovery in the heat. We investigated if this effect is apparent in normothermic conditions (∼19 °C), employing an intermittent high-intensity exercise designed to reflect the work performed at the high-intensity domain in team sports. Fifteen young active men completed 2 exhaustive cycling protocols (Ex1 and Ex2: 12 min at 85% ventilatory threshold (VT) and then an intermittent exercise alternating 30-s at 40% peak power (Ppeak) and 30 s at 90% Ppeak to exhaustion) separated by 15 min of (i) passive rest, (ii) 5-min cold-water immersion at 8 °C, and (iii) 10-min cold-water immersion at 8 °C. Core temperature, heart rate, rates of perceived exertion, and oxygen uptake kinetics were not different during Ex1 among conditions. Time to failure during the intermittent exercise was significantly (P < 0.05) longer during Ex2 following the 5- and 10-min cold-water immersions (7.2 ± 3.5 min and 7.3 ± 3.3 min, respectively) compared with passive rest (5.8 ± 3.1 min). Core temperature, heart rate, and rates of perceived exertion were significantly (P < 0.05) lower during most periods of Ex2 after both cold-water immersions compared with passive rest. The time constant of phase II oxygen uptake response during the 85% VT bout of Ex2 was not different among the 3 conditions. A postexercise, 5- to 10-min cold-water immersion increases subsequent intermittent high-intensity exercise compared with passive rest in normothermia due, at least in part, to reductions in core temperature, circulatory strain, and effort perception.

Download Full-text

Post-exercise cold water immersion does not alter high intensity interval training-induced exercise performance and Hsp72 responses, but enhances mitochondrial markers

Cell Stress and Chaperones ◽

10.1007/s12192-016-0704-6 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 21 (5) ◽

pp. 793-804 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Paula Fernandes Aguiar ◽

Sílvia Mourão Magalhães ◽

Ivana Alice Teixeira Fonseca ◽

Vanessa Batista da Costa Santos ◽

Mariana Aguiar de Matos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Exercise Performance ◽

High Intensity ◽

Cold Water ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Interval Training ◽

Cold Water Immersion ◽

High Intensity Interval Training ◽

Post Exercise ◽

Mitochondrial Markers ◽

High Intensity Interval

Download Full-text

Acute Whole-Body Cooling for Exercise-Induced Hyperthermia: A Systematic Review

Journal of Athletic Training ◽

10.4085/1062-6050-44.1.84 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 44 (1) ◽

pp. 84-93 ◽

Cited By ~ 105

Author(s):

Brendon P. McDermott ◽

Douglas J. Casa ◽

Matthew S. Ganio ◽

Rebecca M. Lopez ◽

Susan W. Yeargin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cold Water ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Cold Water Immersion ◽

Whole Body ◽

Original Research ◽

Induced Hyperthermia ◽

Body Cooling ◽

Exercise Induced ◽

Whole Body Cooling ◽

Ice Water

Abstract Objective: To assess existing original research addressing the efficiency of whole-body cooling modalities in the treatment of exertional hyperthermia. Data Sources: During April 2007, we searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, SportDiscus, CINAHL, and Cochrane Reviews databases as well as ProQuest for theses and dissertations to identify research studies evaluating whole-body cooling treatments without limits. Key words were cooling, cryotherapy, water immersion, cold-water immersion, ice-water immersion, icing, fanning, bath, baths, cooling modality, heat illness, heat illnesses, exertional heatstroke, exertional heat stroke, heat exhaustion, hyperthermia, hyperthermic, hyperpyrexia, exercise, exertion, running, football, military, runners, marathoner, physical activity, marathoning, soccer, and tennis. Data Synthesis: Two independent reviewers graded each study on the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale. Seven of 89 research articles met all inclusion criteria and a minimum score of 4 out of 10 on the PEDro scale. Conclusions: After an extensive and critical review of the available research on whole-body cooling for the treatment of exertional hyperthermia, we concluded that ice-water immersion provides the most efficient cooling. Further research comparing whole-body cooling modalities is needed to identify other acceptable means. When ice-water immersion is not possible, continual dousing with water combined with fanning the patient is an alternative method until more advanced cooling means can be used. Until future investigators identify other acceptable whole-body cooling modalities for exercise-induced hyperthermia, ice-water immersion and cold-water immersion are the methods proven to have the fastest cooling rates.

Download Full-text