Impairment of exercise performance following cold water immersion is not attenuated after 7 days of cold acclimation

The research in this thesis investigated the effects of cold stress on neuromuscular function with the main focus on cold acclimation. In total, 6 studies, 1 field study and 5 experiments, were conducted. The field study showed that during manual work in cold weather, finger and hand temperature can drop to levels that may impair manual function. The first 2 experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of acute local cold stress on force control and to investigate the effect of cold-induced vasodilatation (CIVD) on neuromuscular function. In experiment 1, it was found that cooling of the hand in 10 °C cold water for 10 min did not improve force control, although neuromuscular function was significantly impaired after cooling. In experiment 2, cold-induced vasodilatation, occurring after 20 min of 8 °C cold-water immersion of the hand, was confined to the finger tip and had no effect on the temperature of the first dorsal interosseus (FDI) muscle or its neuromuscular function. A series of cold acclimation studies was conducted to investigate the effect of repeated cold-water hand immersions on neuromuscular function. In these experiments, neuromuscular function was tested before and after 2–3 weeks of daily hand immersion in 8 °C cold water for 30 min. In experiment 3, it was found that 3 weeks of cold-water immersion resulted in a decrease in minimum and mean index finger temperature and CIVD was attenuated. Neuromuscular function was not affected by this change in temperature response. In experiment 4, one hand was exposed daily to cold water and compared with the opposite control hand. Blood plasma catecholamine concentrations were increased after 2 weeks in the cold-exposed hand, but no changes in temperature response or neuromuscular function were found after repeated cold exposure. Thermal comfort after 30 min of cold-water immersion significantly improved after repeated cold exposure causing a discrepancy between actual and perceived temperature and it was suggested that this may impose a greater risk of cold injury owing to a change in behavioural thermoregulation. In the last experiment, core temperature was elevated by bicycling at a submaximal level during the cold hand immersion. Exercise had a direct effect on the temperature response during cold-water immersion, decreasing the minimum FDI temperature and slowing down the deteriorating effect of cold on neuromuscular function; however, exercise showed was no effect on local cold acclimation. It is concluded that local repeated cold exposures may improve finger and hand temperature and subjective thermal ratings, but that these changes are too small to improve neuromuscular function. The best remedy to maintain manual function is to limit or avoid cold stress as much as possible. If sufficient protection of the hands is impossible, core heating through exercise or passive heating may be a solution.

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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.

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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

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Self-paced Aerobic Exercise Performance Is Attenuated Following Four Hours Cold Water Immersion

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise ◽

10.1249/01.mss.0000683596.75631.a7 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 52 (7S) ◽

pp. 770-770

Author(s):

Hayden W. Hess ◽

Zachary J. Schlader ◽

Blair D. Johnson ◽

David Hostler

Keyword(s):

Aerobic Exercise ◽

Exercise Performance ◽

Cold Water ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Cold Water Immersion

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Seven days of cold acclimation substantially reduces shivering intensity and increases nonshivering thermogenesis in adult humans

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/japplphysiol.01133.2018 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 126 (6) ◽

pp. 1598-1606 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Kyle Gordon ◽

Denis P. Blondin ◽

Brian J. Friesen ◽

Hans Christian Tingelstad ◽

Glen P. Kenny ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cold Acclimation ◽

Core Temperature ◽

Heat Production ◽

Cold Exposure ◽

Cold Water ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Cold Water Immersion ◽

Metabolic Changes ◽

Whole Body ◽

Nonshivering Thermogenesis

Daily compensable cold exposure in humans reduces shivering by ~20% without changing total heat production, partly by increasing brown adipose tissue thermogenic capacity and activity. Although acclimation and acclimatization studies have long suggested that daily reductions in core temperature are essential to elicit significant metabolic changes in response to repeated cold exposure, this has never directly been demonstrated. The aim of the present study is to determine whether daily cold-water immersion, resulting in a significant fall in core temperature, can further reduce shivering intensity during mild acute cold exposure. Seven men underwent 1 h of daily cold-water immersion (14°C) for seven consecutive days. Immediately before and following the acclimation protocol, participants underwent a mild cold exposure using a novel skin temperature clamping cold exposure protocol to elicit the same thermogenic rate between trials. Metabolic heat production, shivering intensity, muscle recruitment pattern, and thermal sensation were measured throughout these experimental sessions. Uncompensable cold acclimation reduced total shivering intensity by 36% ( P = 0.003), without affecting whole body heat production, double what was previously shown from a 4-wk mild acclimation. This implies that nonshivering thermogenesis increased to supplement the reduction in the thermogenic contribution of shivering. As fuel selection did not change following the 7-day cold acclimation, we suggest that the nonshivering mechanism recruited must rely on a similar fuel mixture to produce this heat. The more significant reductions in shivering intensity compared with a longer mild cold acclimation suggest important differential metabolic responses, resulting from an uncompensable compared with compensable cold acclimation. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Several decades of research have been dedicated to reducing the presence of shivering during cold exposure. The present study aims to determine whether as little as seven consecutive days of cold-water immersion is sufficient to reduce shivering and increase nonshivering thermogenesis. We provide evidence that whole body nonshivering thermogenesis can be increased to offset a reduction in shivering activity to maintain endogenous heat production. This demonstrates that short, but intense cold stimulation can elicit rapid metabolic changes in humans, thereby improving our comfort and ability to perform various motor tasks in the cold. Further research is required to determine the nonshivering processes that are upregulated within this short time period.

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Effect of Body Composition on Physiological Responses to Cold-Water Immersion and the Recovery of Exercise Performance

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.2017-0083 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 382-389 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Jessica M. Stephens ◽

Shona L. Halson ◽

Joanna Miller ◽

Gary J. Slater ◽

Dale W. Chapman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Composition ◽

Exercise Performance ◽

Cold Water ◽

Thermal Sensation ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Time Trial ◽

Cold Water Immersion ◽

Cycle Ergometer ◽

Total Quality ◽

Performance Recovery

Purpose: To explore the influence of body composition on thermal responses to cold-water immersion (CWI) and the recovery of exercise performance. Methods: Male subjects were stratified into 2 groups: low fat (LF; n = 10) or high fat (HF; n = 10). Subjects completed a high-intensity interval test (HIIT) on a cycle ergometer followed by a 15-min recovery intervention (control [CON] or CWI). Core temperature (Tc), skin temperature, and heart rate were recorded continuously. Performance was assessed at baseline, immediately post-HIIT, and 40 min postrecovery using a 4-min cycling time trial (TT), countermovement jump (CMJ), and isometric midthigh pull (IMTP). Perceptual measures (thermal sensation [TS], total quality of recovery [TQR], soreness, and fatigue) were also assessed. Results: Tc and TS were significantly lower in LF than in HF from 10 min (Tc, LF 36.5°C ± 0.5°C, HF 37.2°C ± 0.6°C; TS, LF 2.3 ± 0.5 arbitrary units [a.u.], HF 3.0 ± 0.7 a.u.) to 40 min (Tc, LF 36.1°C ± 0.6°C, HF 36.8°C ±0.7°C; TS, LF 2.3 ± 0.6 a.u., HF 3.2 ± 0.7 a.u.) after CWI (P < .05). Recovery of TT performance was significantly enhanced after CWI in HF (10.3 ± 6.1%) compared with LF (3.1 ± 5.6%, P = .01); however, no differences were observed between HF (6.9% ±5.7%) and LF (5.4% ± 5.2%) with CON. No significant differences were observed between groups for CMJ, IMTP, TQR, soreness, or fatigue in either condition. Conclusion: Body composition influences the magnitude of Tc change during and after CWI. In addition, CWI enhanced performance recovery in the HF group only. Therefore, body composition should be considered when planning CWI protocols to avoid overcooling and maximize performance recovery.

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Human thermoregulatory responses to cold air are altered by repeated cold water immersion

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/jappl.1986.60.5.1542 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 60 (5) ◽

pp. 1542-1548 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

A. J. Young ◽

S. R. Muza ◽

M. N. Sawka ◽

R. R. Gonzalez ◽

K. B. Pandolf

Keyword(s):

Cold Acclimation ◽

Cold Water ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Stress Test ◽

Cold Water Immersion ◽

Plasma Norepinephrine ◽

Cold Air ◽

Thermoregulatory Responses ◽

Before And After ◽

C 30

The effects of repeated cold water immersion on thermoregulatory responses to cold air were studied in seven males. A cold air stress test (CAST) was performed before and after completion of an acclimation program consisting of daily 90-min cold (18 degrees C) water immersion, repeated 5 times/wk for 5 consecutive wk. The CAST consisted of resting 30 min in a comfortable [24 degrees C, 30% relative humidity (rh)] environment followed by 90 min in cold (5 degrees C, 30% rh) air. Pre- and postacclimation, metabolism (M) increased (P less than 0.01) by 85% during the first 10 min of CAST and thereafter rose slowly. After acclimation, M was lower (P less than 0.02) at 10 min of CAST compared with before, but by 30 min M was the same. Therefore, shivering onset may have been delayed following acclimation. After acclimation, rectal temperature (Tre) was lower (P less than 0.01) before and during CAST, and the drop in Tre during CAST was greater (P less than 0.01) than before. Mean weighted skin temperature (Tsk) was lower (P less than 0.01) following acclimation than before, and acclimation resulted in a larger (P less than 0.02) Tre-to-Tsk gradient. Plasma norepinephrine increased during both CAST (P less than 0.002), but the increase was larger (P less than 0.004) following acclimation. These findings suggest that repeated cold water immersion stimulates development of true cold acclimation in humans as opposed to habituation. The cold acclimation produced appears to be of the insulative type.

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Ischemic Preconditioning: Modulating Pain Sensitivity and Exercise Performance

Frontiers in Physiology ◽

10.3389/fphys.2021.696488 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Joshua T. Slysz ◽

Jamie F. Burr

Keyword(s):

Pain Intensity ◽

Exercise Performance ◽

Pain Sensitivity ◽

Cold Water ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Pearson Correlation ◽

Immersion Test ◽

Cold Water Immersion ◽

Cold Pain ◽

Cold Water Immersion Test

Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine whether an individual’s IPC-mediated change in cold pain sensitivity is associated with the same individual’s IPC-mediated change in exercise performance.Methods Thirteen individuals (8 males; 5 females, 27 ± 7 years, 55 ± 5 ml.kgs–1.min–1) underwent two separate cold-water immersion tests: with preceding IPC treatment and without. In addition, each participant undertook two separate 5-km cycling time trials: with preceding IPC treatment and without. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationship between an individual’s change in cold-water pain sensitivity following IPC with their change in 5-km time trial performance following IPC.Results During the cold-water immersion test, pain intensity increased over time (p < 0.001) but did not change with IPC (p = 0.96). However, IPC significantly reduced the total time spent under pain (−9 ± 7 s; p = 0.001) during the cold-water immersion test. No relationship was found between an individual’s change in time under pain (r = −0.2, p = 0.6) or pain intensity (r = −0.3, p = 0.3) following IPC and their change in performance following IPC.Conclusion These findings suggest that IPC can modulate sensitivity to a painful stimulus, but this altered sensitivity does not explain the ergogenic efficacy of IPC on 5-km cycling performance.

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Patient Involvement in Treatment Decision Making Can Help or Hinder Placebo Analgesia

Zeitschrift für Psychologie ◽

10.1027/2151-2604/a000179 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 222 (3) ◽

pp. 165-170 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Andrew L. Geers ◽

Jason P. Rose ◽

Stephanie L. Fowler ◽

Jill A. Brown

Keyword(s):

Patient Involvement ◽

Cold Water ◽

Prior Experience ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Treatment Decision ◽

Cold Water Immersion ◽

Not Given ◽

Placebo Analgesia ◽

Treatment Decision Making ◽

Immersion Experience

Experiments have found that choosing between placebo analgesics can reduce pain more than being assigned a placebo analgesic. Because earlier research has shown prior experience moderates choice effects in other contexts, we tested whether prior experience with a pain stimulus moderates this placebo-choice association. Before a cold water pain task, participants were either told that an inert cream would reduce their pain or they were not told this information. Additionally, participants chose between one of two inert creams for the task or they were not given choice. Importantly, we also measured prior experience with cold water immersion. Individuals with prior cold water immersion experience tended to display greater placebo analgesia when given choice, whereas participants without this experience tended to display greater placebo analgesia without choice. Prior stimulus experience appears to moderate the effect of choice on placebo analgesia.

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