Effects of post‐exercise cold‐water immersion on resistance training‐induced gains in muscular strength: a meta‐analysis

Abstract

The aim of this review was to perform a meta-analysis examining the effects of CWI coupled with resistance training on gains in muscular strength. Four databases were searched to find relevant studies. Their methodological quality and risk of bias were evaluated using the PEDro checklist. The effects of CWI vs. control on muscular strength were examined in a random-effects meta-analysis. Ten studies (n = 170; 92% males), with 11 comparisons across 22 groups, were included in the analysis. Studies were classified as of good or fair methodological quality. The main meta-analysis found that CWI attenuated muscular strength gains (effect size [ES]: -0.23; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.45, -0.01; p = 0.041). In the analysis of data from studies applying CWI only to the trained limbs, CWI attenuated muscular strength gains (ES: -0.31; 95% CI: -0.61, -0.01; p = 0.041). In the analysis of data from studies using whole-body CWI, there was no significant difference in muscular strength gains between CWI and control (ES: -0.08; 95% CI: -0.53, 0.38; p = 0.743). In summary, this meta-analysis found that the use of CWI following resistance exercise sessions attenuates muscular strength gains in males. However, when CWI was applied to the whole body, there was no significant difference between CWI and control for muscular strength. Due to the attenuated gains in muscular strength found with single limb CWI, the use and/or timing of CWI in resistance training should be carefully considered and individualized.

Effect of CO2 and H2 gas mixture in cold water immersion on recovery after eccentric loading

“…This type of soak could therefore be adopted as a new recovery intervention for athletes after resistance training. It has also been pointed out that CWI attenuates long-term adaptations after resistance exercise [ [12] , [13] , [14] , 40 ]. Therefore, the effects of CH-CWI after resistance exercise on long-term adaptations should be investigated.…”

“…The acute advantages of cold modalities for recovery have been documented, with several studies suggesting that CWI can reduce both immediate anabolic signaling and long-term adaptations after resistance exercise [ [12] , [13] , [14] ]. In a 2020 meta-analysis of male athletes, CWI following resistance exercise sessions attenuated improvements in muscular strength [ 15 ]. Another study suggested that the cooling stimulus provided by CWI may induce vasoconstriction, thus reducing blood flow [ 5 ].…”

Throwing cold water on muscle growth: A systematic review with meta‐analysis of the effects of postexercise cold water immersion on resistance training‐induced hypertrophy

“…Although athletes commonly use CWI to enhance recovery and acutely improve exercise performance (Pointon & Duffield, 2012; Versey et al., 2013), the same might not hold true for chronic adaptations to RT. While there seem to be little or no negative effects of postexercise CWI on endurance training adaptations (Ihsan et al., 2021), CWI following RT may blunt gains in absolute strength and muscular power according to a series of recent narrative and meta‐analytical reviews (Broatch et al., 2018; Chaillou et al., 2022; Grgic, 2023; Malta et al., 2021; Petersen & Fyfe, 2021). However, no known meta‐analysis has been conducted on the effect of post‐exercise cold application on RT‐induced muscle hypertrophy.…”

The effect of water exercise and sand exercise training methods on agility in basketball athletes

“…Water has different pressures depending on the formation compound and depth or volume [22]. The pressure contained in the water can be used to provide a load during exercise [23].…”