Effect of cold water immersion on repeated cycling performance and limb blood flow

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to compare the effects of cold water immersion (CWI) and active recovery (ACT) on resting limb blood flow, rectal temperature and repeated cycling performance in the heat. Ten subjects completed two testing sessions separated by 1 week; each trial consisted of an initial all-out 35-min exercise bout, one of two 15-min recovery interventions (randomised: CWI or ACT), followed by a 40-min passive recovery period before repeating the 35-min exercise bout. Performance was measured as the change in total work completed during the exercise bouts. Resting limb blood flow, heart rate, rectal temperature and blood lactate were recorded throughout the testing sessions. There was a significant decline in performance after ACT (mean (SD) -1.81% (1.05%)) compared with CWI where performance remained unchanged (0.10% (0.71%)). Rectal temperature was reduced after CWI (36.8°C (1.0°C)) compared with ACT (38.3°C (0.4°C)), as was blood flow to the arms (CWI 3.64 (1.47) ml/100 ml/min; ACT 16.85 (3.57) ml/100 ml/min) and legs (CW 4.83 (2.49) ml/100 ml/min; ACT 4.83 (2.49) ml/100 ml/min). Leg blood flow at the end of the second exercise bout was not different between the active (15.25 (4.33) ml/100 ml/min) and cold trials (14.99 (4.96) ml/100 ml/min), whereas rectal temperature (CWI 38.1°C (0.3°C); ACT 38.8°C (0.2°C)) and arm blood flow (CWI 20.55 (3.78) ml/100 ml/min; ACT 23.83 (5.32) ml/100 ml/min) remained depressed until the end of the cold trial. These findings indicate that CWI is an effective intervention for maintaining repeat cycling performance in the heat and this performance benefit is associated with alterations in core temperature and limb blood flow.

Effect of immediate and delayed cold water immersion after a high intensity exercise session on subsequent run performance

“…Similar to the current study, other researchers have reported that CWI performed immediately post-exercise resulted in benefit to subsequent exercise performed ~1 h (compared to active recovery; Vaile et al, 2010) and 24 h (compared to passive control; Bosak et al, 2006;Lane and Wenger, 2004) post immersion. In addition, Ingram et.…”

“…It is also likely that the temperature of the water had a positive effect on subsequent exercise performance. Cold water immersion is proposed to reduce inflammation by evoking vasoconstriction (Peiffer et al, 2009) and decreasing peripheral blood flow (Sramek et al, 2000;Vaile et al, 2010). Vasoconstriction reduces the permeability of cellular, lymphatic and capillary vessels, which slows fluid diffusion into the interstitial space, therefore limiting oedema (Eston and Peters, 1999).…”

“…In addition, CWI has also been reported to induce an increase in stroke volume and cardiac output (Gabrielsen et al, 2002;Lollgen et al, 1981;Sramek et al, 2000), with the resulting increased blood flow assisting in the maintenance of core temperature. This process has been proposed to attenuate blood flow to the traumatised muscle (Thorsson et al, 1985;Vaile et al, 2010), resulting in reduced inflammation, and hence improved recovery. Therefore, the application of CWI should attenuate oedema (Arnheim and Prentice, 1993).…”

Influência de diferentes tipos de recuperação sobre a modulação autonômica cardíaca, concentração de lactato e proteína C-reativa

“…Outros autores utilizaram a técnica de imersão por tempos menores como, 12 minutos (29) , dez minutos (17) , cinco minutos (30) e até um minuto de imersão (1) .…”

“…Para isso, tem-se utilizado algumas técnicas, como terapias manuais [4], termoterapia [1,2,5,9,12,13,15,23,29] e recuperação ativa (RA) [3,8,10,11,26].…”