The Effect of Cold Water Immersion on 48-Hour Performance Testing in Collegiate Soccer Players

Abstract

This randomized, controlled, laboratory study was designed to examine the effect of cold water immersion (CWI) as a recovery modality on repeat performance on the yo-yo intermittent recovery test (YIRT), a widely accepted tool for the evaluation of physical performance in soccer, separated by 48 hours. Twenty-two healthy Division I collegiate soccer players (13 men and 9 women; age, 19.8 ± 1.1 years; height, 174.0 ± 9.0 cm; mass, 72.1 ± 9.1 kg) volunteered as participants during the noncompetitive season. The YIRT was used to induce volitional fatigue and was administered at baseline and again 48 hours later. Athletes progressively increased sprint speed between markers set 20 m apart until pace was failed. Countermovement vertical jump (CMVJ) was used to assess anaerobic power and was measured before YIRT, immediately post-YIRT, and 24 and 48 hours post-YIRT. A 10-cm horizontal visual analog scale was administered immediately, 24 hours and 48 hours post-YIRT to assess perceived fatigue (PF) in the legs. Participants were randomly placed into the CWI or control group. The CWI condition consisted of immersion to the umbilicus in a 12°C pool for 15 minutes, whereas the control group sat quietly for 15 minutes. There were no significant differences between intervention conditions on YIRT performance (control, 4,900 ± 884 m; CWI, 5,288 ± 1,000 m; p = 0.35) or PF (control, 9.4 ± 0.5 cm; CWI, 9.3 ± 0.6 cm; p = 0.65) at 48 hours post-YIRT. There was a main time effect for CMVJ over 48 hours, but no group differences (pre-YIRT, 64.6 ± 11.0 cm; post-YIRT, 66.4 ± 10.9 cm; 24 hours post-YIRT, 63.4 ± 9.9 cm; 48 hours post-YIRT, 63.1 ± 9.4 cm; p = 0.02). This study demonstrated that in collegiate soccer players, CWI performed immediately and 24 hours after induced volitional fatigue did not affect subsequent physical performance estimates.

Cooling and Performance Recovery of Trained Athletes: A Meta-Analytical Review

“…Of the 21 studies that met all selection criteria, 9 showed only positive average effects of cooling on the recovery of performance. [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] In 10 studies, mixed (positive and negative) effects on different target parameters were found. [31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40] In 2 studies, only negative average effects were observed.…”

“…On one hand, several studies showing negligible effects did not test performance for periods longer than 48 hours. 27,36,37,42 On the other hand, studies showing large effects for all time frames 28 have more weight on average effect size for time frames including fewer studies in total. Further indications regarding the influence of the time frame might be obtained by looking at the 3 studies that measured performance at several points of time up to at least 96 hours.…”

The effect of local cryotherapy on subjective and objective recovery characteristics following an exhaustive jump protocol

“…DOMS was always assessed in a squat position (90° knee angle, with brief holding of maximum 3 seconds) ranging from zero (no soreness) to ten (severe soreness), while BORG ratings were always assessed in a standing position 27–29…”

Countermovement Jump Recovery in Professional Soccer Players Using an Inertial Sensor

“…with their out stretched arm. 3,12 Since this test involves an asymmetric vertical reach with one 41 arm, alternative tests have been adopted to better isolate the actual jump performance, and 42 eliminate the reaching component. To this end, CMJ performance has been assessed using 43 contact mats 4,8,11,13,14 or optoelectric systems 1,[5][6][7]9,10 that can accurately measure flight time, and 44 thereby calculate center of mass vertical displacement.…”