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

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.

scholarly journals Modulation of cardiac vascular endothelial growth factor and PGC-1α with regular postexercise cold-water immersion of rats

2019 ◽  
Vol 126 (4) ◽  
pp. 1110-1116
Author(s):  
Ramzi A. Al-horani ◽  
Bahaa Al-Trad ◽  
Saja Haifawi
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ◽  
Growth Factor ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Water Immersion ◽  
Cold Water Immersion ◽  
Peroxisome Proliferator ◽  
Vascular Endothelial ◽  
Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor ◽  
Exercise Induced ◽  
Endothelial Growth Factor

Myocardial mitochondrial biogenesis and vascular angiogenesis biomarker responses to postexercise cold-water immersion (CWI) have not been reported. Therefore, to determine those cardiac adaptations, adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: postexercise CWI (CWI; n = 13), exercise only (Ex; n = 12), and untreated control (CON; n = 10). CWI and Ex were trained for 10 wk, 5 sessions/wk, 30–60 min/session. CWI rats were immersed after each session in cold water (15 min at ~12°C). CON remained sedentary. Left ventricle tissue was obtained 48 h after the last exercise session and analyzed for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and heat shock protein 70 kDa (Hsp70) protein content and mRNA expression levels. In addition, superoxide dismutase activity and mRNA and malondialdehyde levels were evaluated. Ex and CWI induced higher PGC-1α protein content compared with CON (1.8 ± 0.6-fold, P < 0.001), which was significantly higher in CWI than Ex rats ( P = 0.01). VEGF protein (4.3 ± 3.7-fold) and mRNA (10.1 ± 1.1-fold) were markedly increased only in CWI ( P < 0.001) relative to CON. CWI and Ex augmented cardiac Hsp70 protein to a similar level relative to CON ( P < 0.05); however, Hsp70 mRNA increased only in Ex ( P = 0.002). No further differences were observed between groups. These results suggest that postexercise CWI may further enhance cardiac oxidative capacity by increasing the angiogenic and mitochondrial biogenic factors. In addition, CWI does not seem to worsen exercise-induced cardioprotection and oxidative stress. NEW & NOTEWORTHY A regular postexercise cold-water immersion for 10 wk of endurance training augmented the myocardial mitochondrial biogenesis and vascular angiogenesis coactivators peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor, respectively. In addition, postexercise cold-water immersion did not attenuate the exercise-induced increase in the cardioprotective biomarker heat shock protein 70 kDa or increase exercise-induced oxidative stress.

scholarly journals PGC-1α alternative promoter (Exon 1b) controls augmentation of total PGC-1α gene expression in response to cold water immersion and low glycogen availability

2020 ◽  
Vol 120 (11) ◽  
pp. 2487-2493
Author(s):  
R. Allan ◽  
J. P. Morton ◽  
G. L. Close ◽  
B. Drust ◽  
W. Gregson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Water Immersion ◽  
Cold Water Immersion ◽  
Alternative Promoter ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Peroxisome Proliferator ◽  
Local Cooling ◽  
Post Exercise ◽  
Specific Regulation

AbstractThis investigation sought to determine whether post-exercise cold water immersion and low glycogen availability, separately and in combination, would preferentially activate either the Exon 1a or Exon 1b Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) promoter. Through a reanalysis of sample design, we identified that the systemic cold-induced augmentation of total PGC-1α gene expression observed previously (Allan et al. in J Appl Physiol 123(2):451–459, 2017) was largely a result of increased expression from the alternative promoter (Exon 1b), rather than canonical promoter (Exon 1a). Low glycogen availability in combination with local cooling of the muscle (Allan et al. in Physiol Rep 7(11):e14082, 2019) demonstrated that PGC-1α alternative promoter (Exon 1b) expression continued to rise at 3 h post-exercise in all conditions; whilst, expression from the canonical promoter (Exon 1a) decreased between the same time points (post-exercise–3 h post-exercise). Importantly, this increase in PGC-1α Exon 1b expression was reduced compared to the response of low glycogen or cold water immersion alone, suggesting that the combination of prior low glycogen and CWI post-exercise impaired the response in gene expression versus these conditions individually. Data herein emphasise the influence of post-exercise cooling and low glycogen availability on Exon-specific control of total PGC-1 α gene expression and highlight the need for future research to assess Exon-specific regulation of PGC-1α.

COLD WATER IMMERSION AS A POST-EXERCISE RECOVERY STRATEGY

2013 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-36
Author(s):  
Michał Kaczmarek ◽  
Dariusz Mucha ◽  
Natalia Jarawka
Keyword(s):  
Cold Water ◽  
Water Immersion ◽  
Cold Water Immersion ◽  
Exercise Recovery ◽  
Recovery Strategy ◽  
Post Exercise ◽  
Post Exercise Recovery

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

2017 ◽  
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.

A New Mathematical Approach to Explore the Post-exercise Recovery Process and Its Applicability in a Cold Water Immersion Protocol

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 1266-1275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jéssica K. Micheletti ◽  
Franciele M. Vanderlei ◽  
Aryane F. Machado ◽  
Aline C. de Almeida ◽  
Fábio Y. Nakamura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cold Water ◽  
Water Immersion ◽  
Recovery Process ◽  
Cold Water Immersion ◽  
Exercise Recovery ◽  
Mathematical Approach ◽  
Post Exercise ◽  
Post Exercise Recovery

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

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 793-804 ◽  
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

scholarly journals The Prevalence of Use of Various Post-Exercise Recovery Methods after Training among Elite Endurance Athletes

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (21) ◽  
pp. 11698
Author(s):  
Eduard Bezuglov ◽  
Artemii Lazarev ◽  
Vladimir Khaitin ◽  
Sergey Chegin ◽  
Aleksandra Tikhonova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cold Water ◽  
Water Immersion ◽  
Cold Water Immersion ◽  
Track And Field ◽  
Exercise Recovery ◽  
Compression Garments ◽  
Post Exercise ◽  
Daytime Nap ◽  
Post Exercise Recovery ◽  
Recovery Methods

There is now compelling evidence of the effectiveness of a range of post-exercise recovery techniques, including extended nights of sleep, cold water immersion, massage, and compression garments. Currently, limited information is available on post-exercise recovery methods used by elite endurance athletes. Therefore, this study investigated the actual methods of recovery used in this group of athletes. Google Forms were used to collect information on the recovery methods used by elite endurance track and field athletes (n = 153, 61.4% men, 38.6% women; average age: 22.7 ± 4.6 years). The most used methods of recovery were sauna bathing (96.7%), massage (86.9%), daytime nap (81.0%), and long night sleep (at least 9h) (61.4%). Recovery methods with proven effectiveness such as cold water immersion and compression garments were rarely used (15.0% and 7.8%, respectively). Overall, recovery methods were used more often when the tiers of the track and field athletes were higher. Massage and sauna bathing were the most used methods of post-exercise recovery among Russian endurance track and field athletes. In most cases, they were used in conjunction with short daytime nap and long night sleep. Higher tier athletes were more likely to use sauna bathing, massage, long night sleep, and daytime nap but not cold water immersion and compression garments as recovery methods; however, all these methods except for cold water immersion were widely used among elite-tier athletes.

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