Cellular, molecular and physiological effects of post-resistance exercise cold water immersion: Implications for subsequent perofrmance

Cold water immersion (CWI) and active recovery (ACT) are frequently used as postexercise recovery strategies. However, the physiological effects of CWI and ACT after resistance exercise are not well characterized. We examined the effects of CWI and ACT on cardiac output (Q̇), muscle oxygenation (SmO2), blood volume (tHb), muscle temperature (Tmuscle), and isometric strength after resistance exercise. On separate days, 10 men performed resistance exercise, followed by 10 min CWI at 10°C or 10 min ACT (low-intensity cycling). Q̇ (7.9 ± 2.7 l) and Tmuscle (2.2 ± 0.8°C) increased, whereas SmO2 (−21.5 ± 8.8%) and tHb (−10.1 ± 7.7 μM) decreased after exercise ( P < 0.05). During CWI, Q̇ (−1.1 ± 0.7 l) and Tmuscle (−6.6 ± 5.3°C) decreased, while tHb (121 ± 77 μM) increased ( P < 0.05). In the hour after CWI, Q̇ and Tmuscle remained low, while tHb also decreased ( P < 0.05). By contrast, during ACT, Q̇ (3.9 ± 2.3 l), Tmuscle (2.2 ± 0.5°C), SmO2 (17.1 ± 5.7%), and tHb (91 ± 66 μM) all increased ( P < 0.05). In the hour after ACT, Tmuscle, and tHb remained high ( P < 0.05). Peak isometric strength during 10-s maximum voluntary contractions (MVCs) did not change significantly after CWI, whereas it decreased after ACT (−30 to −45 Nm; P < 0.05). Muscle deoxygenation time during MVCs increased after ACT ( P < 0.05), but not after CWI. Muscle reoxygenation time after MVCs tended to increase after CWI ( P = 0.052). These findings suggest first that hemodynamics and muscle temperature after resistance exercise are dependent on ambient temperature and metabolic demands with skeletal muscle, and second, that recovery of strength after resistance exercise is independent of changes in hemodynamics and muscle temperature.

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Comparison of the Effects of Electrical Stimulation and Cold-Water Immersion on Muscle Soreness After Resistance Exercise

Journal of Sport Rehabilitation ◽

10.1123/jsr.2013-0113 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 99-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Adam R. Jajtner ◽

Jay R. Hoffman ◽

Adam M. Gonzalez ◽

Phillip R. Worts ◽

Maren S. Fragala ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Electrical Stimulation ◽

Resistance Training ◽

Resistance Exercise ◽

Cold Water ◽

Vastus Lateralis ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Average Power ◽

High Volume ◽

Cold Water Immersion ◽

Peak Performance

Context:Resistance training is a common form of exercise for competitive and recreational athletes. Enhancing recovery from resistance training may improve the muscle-remodeling processes, stimulating a faster return to peak performance.Objective:To examine the effects of 2 different recovery modalities, neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and cold-water immersion (CWI), on performance and biochemical and ultrasonographic measures.Participants:Thirty resistance-trained men (23.1 ± 2.9 y, 175.2 ± 7.1 cm, 82.1 ± 8.4 kg) were randomly assigned to NMES, CWI, or control (CON).Design and Setting:All participants completed a high-volume lower-body resistance-training workout on d 1 and returned to the human performance laboratory 24 (24H) and 48 h (48H) postexercise for follow-up testing.Measures:Blood samples were obtained preexercise (PRE) and immediately (IP), 30 min (30P), 24 h (24H), and 48 h (48H) post. Subjects were examined for performance changes in the squat exercise (total repetitions and average power per repetition), biomarkers of inflammation, and changes in cross-sectional area and echo intensity (EI) of the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis muscles.Results:No differences between groups were observed in the number of repetitions (P = .250; power: P = .663). Inferential-based analysis indicated that increases in C-reactive protein concentrations were likely increased by a greater magnitude after CWI compared with CON, while NMES possibly decreased more than CON from IP to 24H. Increases in interleukin-10 concentrations between IP and 30P were likely greater in CWI than NMES but not different from CON. Inferential-based analysis of RF EI indicated a likely decrease for CWI between IP and 48H. No other differences between groups were noted in any other muscle-architecture measures.Conclusions:Results indicated that CWI induced greater increases in pro- and anti-inflammatory markers, while decreasing RF EI, suggesting that CWI may be effective in enhancing short-term muscle recovery after high-volume bouts of resistance exercise.

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Cold-water immersion blunts and delays increases in circulating testosterone and cytokines post-resistance exercise

European Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1007/s00421-019-04178-7 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 119 (8) ◽

pp. 1901-1907 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jacob E. Earp ◽

Disa L. Hatfield ◽

Andrew Sherman ◽

Elaine C. Lee ◽

William J. Kraemer

Keyword(s):

Resistance Exercise ◽

Cold Water ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Cold Water Immersion

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Influence of cold-water immersion on limb blood flow after resistance exercise

European Journal of Sport Science ◽

10.1080/17461391.2017.1279222 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 17 (5) ◽

pp. 519-529 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Chris Mawhinney ◽

Helen Jones ◽

David A. Low ◽

Daniel J. Green ◽

Glyn Howatson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Resistance Exercise ◽

Cold Water ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Cold Water Immersion ◽

Limb Blood Flow

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The Effects of Cold Water Immersion and Active Recovery on Molecular Factors That Regulate Growth and Remodeling of Skeletal Muscle After Resistance Exercise

Frontiers in Physiology ◽

10.3389/fphys.2020.00737 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Jonathan M. Peake ◽

James F. Markworth ◽

Kristoffer Toldnes Cumming ◽

Sigve N. Aas ◽

Llion A. Roberts ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Skeletal Muscle ◽

Resistance Exercise ◽

Cold Water ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Cold Water Immersion ◽

Active Recovery ◽

Growth And Remodeling

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Mediators of Monocyte Migration in Response to Recovery Modalities following Resistance Exercise

Mediators of Inflammation ◽

10.1155/2014/145817 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2014 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Adam R. Jajtner ◽

Maren S. Fragala ◽

Jeremy R. Townsend ◽

Adam M. Gonzalez ◽

Adam J. Wells ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Resistance Exercise ◽

Electric Stimulation ◽

Cold Water ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Cold Water Immersion ◽

Monocyte Adhesion ◽

Monocyte Migration ◽

Chemokine Ligand ◽

Inferential Analysis ◽

Complement Receptor 3

Mediators of monocyte migration, complement receptor-3 (CR3), and chemokine ligand-4 (CCL4) were measured in response to recovery modalities following resistance exercise. Thirty resistance-trained men (23.1±2.9 y;175.2±7.1 cm;82.1±8.4 kg) were given neuromuscular electric stimulation (NMES), cold water immersion (CWI), or control (CON) treatments immediately following resistance exercise. Blood samples were obtained preexercise (PRE), immediately (IP), 30 minutes (30 P), 24 hours (24 H), and 48 hours (48 H) after exercise for measurement of circulating CCL4 and CR3 expression on CD14+ monocytes, by assay and flow cytometry. Circulating CCL4 showed no consistent changes. Inferential analysis indicated that CR3 expression was likely greater in CON at 30 P than NMES (90.0%) or CWI (86.8%). NMES was likely lower than CON at 24 H (92.9%) and very likely lower at 48 H (98.7%). Expression of CR3 following CWI was very likely greater than CON (96.5%) at 24 H. The proportion of CR3+ monocytes was likely greater following CWI than NMES (85.8%) or CON (85.2%) at 24 H. The change in proportion of CR3+ monocytes was likely (86.4%) greater following NMES than CON from IP to 30 P. The increased expression of CR3 and increased proportion of CR3+ monocytes following CWI at 24 H indicate a potentially improved ability for monocyte adhesion to the endothelium, possibly improving phagocytosis of damaged tissues.

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Cold water immersion enhances recovery of submaximal muscle function after resistance exercise

AJP Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpregu.00180.2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 307 (8) ◽

pp. R998-R1008 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

Llion A. Roberts ◽

Kazunori Nosaka ◽

Jeff S. Coombes ◽

Jonathan M. Peake

Keyword(s):

Resistance Exercise ◽

High Intensity ◽

Muscle Function ◽

Cold Water ◽

Water Immersion ◽

Venous Blood ◽

Cold Water Immersion ◽

Active Recovery ◽

Physically Active ◽

Training Adaptations

We investigated the effect of cold water immersion (CWI) on the recovery of muscle function and physiological responses after high-intensity resistance exercise. Using a randomized, cross-over design, 10 physically active men performed high-intensity resistance exercise followed by one of two recovery interventions: 1) 10 min of CWI at 10°C or 2) 10 min of active recovery (low-intensity cycling). After the recovery interventions, maximal muscle function was assessed after 2 and 4 h by measuring jump height and isometric squat strength. Submaximal muscle function was assessed after 6 h by measuring the average load lifted during 6 sets of 10 squats at 80% of 1 repetition maximum. Intramuscular temperature (1 cm) was also recorded, and venous blood samples were analyzed for markers of metabolism, vasoconstriction, and muscle damage. CWI did not enhance recovery of maximal muscle function. However, during the final three sets of the submaximal muscle function test, participants lifted a greater load ( P < 0.05, Cohen's effect size: 1.3, 38%) after CWI compared with active recovery. During CWI, muscle temperature decreased ∼7°C below postexercise values and remained below preexercise values for another 35 min. Venous blood O2 saturation decreased below preexercise values for 1.5 h after CWI. Serum endothelin-1 concentration did not change after CWI, whereas it decreased after active recovery. Plasma myoglobin concentration was lower, whereas plasma IL-6 concentration was higher after CWI compared with active recovery. These results suggest that CWI after resistance exercise allows athletes to complete more work during subsequent training sessions, which could enhance long-term training adaptations.

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