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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 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.

Purpose:To examine the effect of postexercise cold-water immersion (CWI) protocols, compared with control (CON), on the magnitude and time course of core temperature (Tc) responses.Methods:Pooled-data analyses were used to examine theTcresponses of 157 subjects from previous postexercise CWI trials in the authors’ laboratories. CWI protocols varied with different combinations of temperature, duration, immersion depth, and mode (continuous vs intermittent).Tcwas examined as a double difference (ΔΔTc), calculated as the change inTcin CWI condition minus the corresponding change in CON. The effect of CWI on ΔΔTcwas assessed using separate linear mixed models across 2 time components (component 1, immersion; component 2, postintervention).Results:Intermittent CWI resulted in a mean decrease in ΔΔTcthat was 0.25°C (0.10°C) (estimate [SE]) greater than continuous CWI during the immersion component (P = .02). There was a significant effect of CWI temperature during the immersion component (P = .05), where reductions in water temperature of 1°C resulted in decreases in ΔΔTcof 0.03°C (0.01°C). Similarly, the effect of CWI duration was significant during the immersion component (P = .01), where every 1 min of immersion resulted in a decrease in ΔΔTcof 0.02°C (0.01°C). The peak difference inTcbetween the CWI and CON interventions during the postimmersion component occurred at 60 min postintervention.Conclusions:Variations in CWI mode, duration, and temperature may have a significant effect on the extent of change inTc. Careful consideration should be given to determine the optimal amount of core cooling before deciding which combination of protocol factors to prescribe.

AB Purpose: Cold water immersion (CWI) may be beneficial for acute recovery from exercise, but it may impair long-term performance by attenuating the stimuli responsible for adaptation to training. We compared effects of CWI and passive rest on cycling performance during a simulated cycling grand tour. Methods: Thirty-four male endurance-trained competitive cyclists were randomized to CWI for four times per week for 15 min at 15[degrees]C or control (passive recovery) groups for 7 d of baseline training, 21 d of intensified training, and an 11-d taper. Criteria for completion of training and testing were satisfied by 10 cyclists in the CWI group (maximal aerobic power, 5.13 +/- 0.21 W[middle dot]kg-1; mean +/- SD) and 11 in the control group (5.01 +/- 0.41 W[middle dot]kg-1). Each week, cyclists completed a high-intensity interval cycling test and two 4-min bouts separated by 30 min. CWI was performed four times per week for 15 min at 15[degrees]C. Results: Between baseline and taper, cyclists in the CWI group had an unclear change in overall 4-min power relative to control (2.7% +/- 5.7%), although mean power in the second effort relative to the first was likely higher for the CWI group relative to control (3.0% +/- 3.8%). The change in 1-s maximum mean sprint power in the CWI group was likely beneficial compared with control (4.4% +/- 4.2%). Differences between groups for the 10-min time trial were unclear (-0.4% +/- 4.3%). Conclusion: Although some effects of CWI on performance were unclear, data from this study do not support recent speculation that CWI is detrimental to performance after increased training load in competitive cyclists

The use of cold-water immersion (CWI) for postexercise recovery has become increasingly prevalent in recent years, but there is a dearth of strong scientific evidence to support the optimization of protocols for performance benefits. While the increase in practice and popularity of CWI has led to multiple studies and reviews in the area of water immersion, the research has predominantly focused on performance outcomes associated with postexercise CWI. Studies to date have generally shown positive results with enhanced recovery of performance. However, there are a small number of studies that have shown CWI to have either no effect or a detrimental effect on the recovery of performance. The rationale for such contradictory responses has received little attention but may be related to nuances associated with individuals that may need to be accounted for in optimizing prescription of protocols. To recommend optimal protocols to enhance athletic recovery, research must provide a greater understanding of the physiology underpinning performance change and the factors that may contribute to the varied responses currently observed. This review focuses specifically on why some of the current literature may show variability and disparity in the effectiveness of CWI for recovery of athletic performance by examining the body temperature and cardiovascular responses underpinning CWI and how they are related to performance benefits. This review also examines how individual characteristics (such as physique traits), differences in water-immersion protocol (depth, duration, temperature), and exercise type (endurance vs maximal) interact with these mechanisms.

The current study aimed to examine the influence of body fat percentage on thermal responses to water immersion at the two temperature extremes used in athletic recovery, by comparing the thermal responses of low- and high-fat individuals to immersion in hot water (HWI) or cold water (CWI). Thirty-nine subjects completed a body composition assessment (to determine low-fat and high-fat groups), and 15 minutes of either CWI (n = 20) or HWI (n = 19), followed by 30 minutes of passive rest. Core temperature (Tc), skin temperature (Tsk), and thermal sensation (TSS) were recorded at various time points during immersion and throughout the rest period. There were no significant differences between the low- and high-fat groups during CWI; however, the low-fat group had a significantly lower Tc compared to the high-fat group at 10, 20, and 30 minutes post-CWI (p less than 0.05). During HWI, the low-fat group had a significantly higher Tc at 5 minutes (p less than 0.05). In the low-fat group, TSS was significantly lower at 15 minutes of CWI (p = 0.03) and significantly higher at 15 minutes of HWI (p = 0.03), relative to the high-fat group. There were no significant differences between groups for Tsk measurements. Percentage body fat affects physiological and perceptual responses to immersion in both hot and cold water. Current hydrotherapy practices may need to be individualized to ensure optimal recovery.