SynthesisFrontiers in physiology2023
Effects of cold water immersion after exercise on fatigue recovery and exercise performance--meta analysis.
Synthesis in Frontiers in physiology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 45 citations in OpenAlex.
- Strategic Application of Post-exercise Cold-Water Immersion to Enhance Performance Recovery and Adaptation: An Umbrella Review of 15 Published Systematic Reviews with Meta-analysis.Sports medicine - open · 2026Pooled it
- Fatigue-induced changes in static and dynamic balance control in athletes with chronic ankle instability: a systematic review.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2026Pooled it
- Effects of Rapid Weight Loss on the Immune System in Combat Sports Athletes: A Systematic Review.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Pooled it
- Pooled it
- The Impact of Cold-Water Immersion on Post-Match Recovery in Trained Soccer Players: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports · 2026Pooled it
- Physical Therapies for Delayed-Onset Muscle Soreness: An Umbrella and Mapping Systematic Review with Meta-meta-analysis.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2025Pooled it
- Effects of cold-water immersion on health and wellbeing: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PloS one · 2025Pooled it
- Effects of Immediate and Delayed Repeated Cold Exposure After Physical Exertion: A Randomized Controlled Trial.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2026Trial
- Short-duration phase-change material cryotherapy selectively enhances early neuromuscular and perceptual recovery.PloS one · 2026Trial
- Effects of Acute and Repeated Ischemic Preconditioning on Recovery from Muscle Fatigue after High-Intensity Swim Training in Male Amateur Swimmers.Journal of sports science & medicine · 2025Trial
- Cold Water Immersion Does Not Enhance Recovery and Performance After High-Intensity Interval Dorsiflexion Exercise.Scandinavian journal of medicine & science in sports · 2025Trial
- Cold Water Immersion or Foam Rolling? A Randomized Crossover Trial Comparing Recovery Effects on High-Intensity Performance and Markers of Muscle Damage and Inflammation in Soccer Players.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Cold water immersion protocol optimization across exercise modalities: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of resistance training, endurance exercise, and team sport applications.BMC sports science, medicine & rehabilitation · 2026Article
- Impact of different cryotherapy interventions on post-exercise acute delayed-onset muscle soreness, athletic performance, and inflammatory biomarkers: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2026Review
- Musculoskeletal Disorders and Psychological and Environmental Factors Associated with Recreational and Sport Fishing: A Narrative Review.Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology · 2025Review
- Comparison of the Effects of Cold-Water Immersion Applied Alone and Combined Therapy on the Recovery of Muscle Fatigue After Exercise: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Life (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Hydrogen-Rich Water Decreases Muscle Damage and Improves Power Endurance in Elite Athletes: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial.Journal of lifestyle medicine · 2025Article
- Enhancing Post-Training Muscle Recovery and Strength in Paralympic Powerlifting Athletes with Cold-Water Immersion, a Cross-Sectional Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- International Ski and Snowboard Federation consensus statement on warm-up and cool-down in competitive alpine and freestyle skiers and snowboarders.BMJ open sport & exercise medicine · 2025Article
- The impact of various post-exercise interventions on the relief of delayed-onset muscle soreness: a randomized controlled trial.Frontiers in physiology · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Cold water immersion (CWI) is very popular as a method reducing post-exercise muscle stiffness, eliminating fatigue, decreasing exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), and recovering sports performance. However, there are conflicting opinions as to whether CWI functions positively or negatively. The mechanisms of CWI are still not clear. In this systematic review, we used meta-analysis aims to examine the effect of CWI on fatigue recovery after high-intensity exercise and exercise performance. A total of 20 studies were retrieved and included from PubMed, PEDro and Elsevier databases in this review. Publication years of articles ranged from 2002 to 2022. In selected studies including randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and Crossover design (COD). Analyses of subjective indicators such as delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and objective indicators such as countermovement jump (CMJ) and blood plasma markers including creatine kinase(CK), lactate/lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), C-reactive protein(CRP), and IL-6 were performed. Pooled data showed as follows: CWI resulted in a significant decline in subjective characteristics (delayed-onset muscle soreness and perceived exertion at 0 h); CWI reduced countermovement jump(CMJ) significantly at 0 h, creatine kinase(CK) was lowered at 24 h, and lactate at 24 and 48 h. There was no evidence that CWI affects C-reactive protein(CRP) and IL-6 during a 48-h recovery period. Subgroup analysis revealed that different CWI sites and water temperatures have no effect on post-exercise fatigue recovery. Recommended athletes immersed in cold water immediately after exercise, which can effectively reduce muscle soreness and accelerate fatigue recovery.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.