Cellular, molecular and physiological effects of post-resistance exercise cold water immersion: Implications for subsequent perofrmance

Abstract

The objective of this thesis was to examine the efficacy of cold water immersion as a recovery therapy after resistance exercise. To achieve this objective, the research had two distinct aims, (1) to investigate how cold water immersion influences acute (short-term) physiological and performance responses following a single bout of resistance exercise, and (2) to investigate how regular (longer-term) use of cold water immersion following resistance training sessions may effect training-induced adaptation.Recovery following resistance exercise is a complex, multi-faceted process that can involve the combination of a variety of recovery therapies, all with the common goal of restoring physiological and psychological homeostasis. The timing of subsequent exercise bout(s) and the desired outcome from the preceding exercise bout will heavily determine the recovery duration, and whether emphasis is placed upon a single recovery therapy over another. Cold water immersion is a popular post-exercise recovery therapy with extensive use worldwide, largely due to its simplicity, and cost-effective nature of implementation. However, the use of cold water immersion is largely supported only by anecdotal evidence from athletes and practitioners. Little physiological evidence is available as to its mechanisms of action following exercise, both in acute, and long term settings.There is a paucity of physiological knowledge available regarding post-exercise cold water immersion per se, and this is accompanied with a disparity in the reported physiological and performance responses. The degree of disparity can be attributed not only to the use of cold water immersion protocols differing in e.g. temperature (5 -15 o C), duration (5 -20 min), immersion depth (individual limb(s) compared with whole-body) and application frequency (single compared with multiple post-exercise immersions), but also to exercise protocols with varied degrees of ecological validity.In a first experimental study, detailed in chapter 2, I investigated how a bout of active recovery (stationary, low-intensity cycling) compared with a 10 min bout of CWI at 10 o C performed after a single high-intensity resistance training session in influencing physiological and performance responses over a 6-hour recovery period. Large physiological responses were observed over the initial period of recovery that could be attributed to a decrease in central (cardiac output) and peripheral (muscle artero-venous) blood flow following cold water immersion. Despite such physiological responses, participants were able to perform more work during a resistance exercise training simulation exercise when cold water immersion was used. Therefore, a second iii experimental study, detailed in chapter 3 was undertaken to more closely investigate how performing cold water immersion or active recovery after resistance exercise influence physiological responses over the initial 60 min following the recovery therapy, and how these physiological responses correspond with exercise perf...

Repetitive cryotherapy attenuates the in vitro and in vivo mononuclear cell activation response

“…The debate about CWI still centres on whether a reduction in certain physiological mechanisms is beneficial or detrimental to adaptation (Fröhlich et al . ; Roberts, ); however, the results of this pilot study demonstrate reduced macrophage activation through a probable immediate inhibition of activation of γ‐interferon‐producing T cells and a potentially reduced inflammatory response. Statistical power analysis identified a minimal requirement of 10 subjects per group to elucidate any meaningful change, which is definitely achievable for future experiments, given the ever‐growing popularity of MMA.…”