Cooling down the use of cryotherapy for post-exercise skeletal muscle recovery

Cheng, Arthur J.

doi:10.1080/23328940.2017.1413284

Cited by 7 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Comment on: 1) Arthur J. Cheng We read with interest the recent commentary on the effects of cold water immersion (CWI) on skeletal muscle recovery following endurance exercise [1]. The narrative describes recent work which reported impaired recovery in arm cycling performance, when triceps brachii muscle temperatures were reduced to approximately 15°C following a 120-min localized cooling intervention [2].…”

Section: Front Matter: Discoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, differences in cardiorespiratory response were adequately controlled for whilst successfully manipulating muscle temperatures, providing mechanistic insights into the effects of prolonged and extreme decreases in tissue temperature per se on the recovery of muscle contractile function. In the narrative [1], the author has cautioned against the use of CWI for skeletal muscle recovery, particularly when multiple competitions or qualifying rounds are performed within the same day. Additionally, it was suggested that competitions performed over consecutive days or weeks can lead to accumulative fatigue and regular CWI can compound the problem.…”

Section: Front Matter: Discoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, it was suggested that competitions performed over consecutive days or weeks can lead to accumulative fatigue and regular CWI can compound the problem. The motivation for this commentary is twofold; firstly, to commend the rigorous mechanistic insight provided by Cheng and colleagues in their work [1 2,], and secondly, encourage the appropriate context be applied to such data by the scientific and applied communities [1].…”

Section: Front Matter: Discoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is crucial to consider the experimental context within the original work, when extrapolating the findings to applied recommendations [1]. For instance, the cooling protocol utilized (i.e., 120 min) in the original research [2], and the resultant physiological responses (extremely low muscle temperatures, i.e.,~15°C), are atypical from common practice in research and their application to athletes in the "real world" [2 3,].…”

Section: Front Matter: Discoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is important to note that post-exercise CWI is typically undertaken at temperatures ranging between 10-15°C for 10-15 min, resulting in muscle temperatures of approximately 30°C [3]. Consequently, while these experiments may improve our understanding of the intramuscular factors influencing muscle function following cooling, extrapolation, and application to a sports science setting is difficult [1]. Recommending for or against the use of post-exercise CWI is certainly contextual, as the effects of CWI are complex and multifaceted, and the overall influence on adaptations and performance are likely to be influenced by a range of factors including the magnitude, location, timing of cooling and the specific demands of the exercise tasks both prior to and following cooling.…”

Section: Front Matter: Discoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Warming to the ice bath: Don’t go cool on cold water immersion just yet!

et al. 2020

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Section: Front Matter: Discoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Front Matter: Discoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Front Matter: Discoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Front Matter: Discoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Front Matter: Discoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Warming to the ice bath: Don’t go cool on cold water immersion just yet!

et al. 2020

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Cold for centuries: a brief history of cryotherapies to improve health, injury and post-exercise recovery

et al. 2022

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For centuries, cold temperatures have been used by humans for therapeutic, health and sporting recovery purposes. This application of cold for therapeutic purposes is regularly referred to as cryotherapy. Cryotherapies including ice, cold-water and cold air have been popularised by an ability to remove heat, reduce core and tissue temperatures, and alter blood flow in humans. The resulting downstream effects upon human physiologies providing benefits that include a reduced perception of pain, or analgesia, and an improved sensation of well-being. Ultimately, such benefits have been translated into therapies that may assist in improving post-exercise recovery, with further investigations assessing the role that cryotherapies can play in attenuating the ensuing post-exercise inflammatory response. Whilst considerable progress has been made in our understanding of the mechanistic changes associated with adopting cryotherapies, research focus tends to look towards the future rather than to the past. It has been suggested that this might be due to the notion of progress being defined as change over time from lower to higher states of knowledge. However, a historical perspective, studying a subject in light of its earliest phase and subsequent evolution, could help sharpen one’s vision of the present; helping to generate new research questions as well as look at old questions in new ways. Therefore, the aim of this brief historical perspective is to highlight the origins of the many arms of this popular recovery and treatment technique, whilst further assessing the changing face of cryotherapy. We conclude by discussing what lies ahead in the future for cold-application techniques.

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Athlete, coach and practitioner knowledge and perceptions of post-exercise cold-water immersion for recovery: a qualitative and quantitative exploration

et al. 2021

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This survey sought to establish current use, knowledge and perceptions of cold-water immersion (CWI) when used for recovery. 111 athletes, coaches and support practitioners completed the anonymous online survey, answering questions about their current CWI protocols, perceptions of benefits associated with CWI and knowledge of controlling mechanisms. Respondents were largely involved in elite sport at international, national and club level, with many having used CWI previously (86%) and finding its use beneficial for recovery (78%). Protocols differed, with the duration of immersion one aspect that failed to align with recommendations in the scientific literature. Whilst many respondents were aware of benefits associated with CWI, there remains some confusion. There also seems to be a gap in mechanistic knowledge, where respondents are aware of benefits associated with CWI, but failed to identify the underlying mechanisms. This identifies the need for an improved method of knowledge transfer between scientific and applied practice communities. Moreover, data herein emphasises the important role of the ‘support practitioner’ as respondents in this role tended to favour CWI protocols more aligned to recommendations within the literature. With a significant number of respondents claiming they were made aware of CWI for recovery through a colleague (43%), the importance of knowledge transfer and context being appropriately applied to data is as important as ever. With the firm belief that CWI is useful for recovery in sport, the focus should now be on investigating the psychophysiological interaction and correct use of this methodology.

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Cooling down the use of cryotherapy for post-exercise skeletal muscle recovery

Cited by 7 publications

References 5 publications

Warming to the ice bath: Don’t go cool on cold water immersion just yet!

Warming to the ice bath: Don’t go cool on cold water immersion just yet!

Cold for centuries: a brief history of cryotherapies to improve health, injury and post-exercise recovery

Athlete, coach and practitioner knowledge and perceptions of post-exercise cold-water immersion for recovery: a qualitative and quantitative exploration

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