title: Effectiveness of water immersion on postmatch recovery in elite professional footballers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The efficacy of a single exposure to 14 min of contrast water therapy (CWT) or cold-water immersion (COLD) on recovery postmatch in elite professional footballers was investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four elite footballers participated in a match followed by 1 of 3 recovery interventions. Recovery was monitored for 48 h postmatch. Repeat-sprint ability (6 × 20-m), static and countermovement jump performance, perceived soreness, and fatigue were measured prematch and immediately, 24 h, and 48 h after the match. Soreness and fatigue were also measured 1 h postmatch. Postmatch, players were randomly assigned to complete passive recovery (PAS; n = 8), COLD (n = 8), or CWT (n = 8).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immediately postmatch, all groups exhibited similar psychometric and performance decrements, which persisted for 48 h only in the PAS group. Repeat-sprinting performance remained slower at 24 and 48 h for PAS (3.9% and 2.0%) and CWT (1.6% and 0.9%) but was restored by COLD (0.2% and 0.0%). Soreness after 48 h was most effectively attenuated by COLD (ES 0.59 ± 0.10) but remained elevated for CWT (ES 2.39 ± 0.29) and PAS (ES 4.01 ± 0.97). Similarly, COLD more successfully reduced fatigue after 48 h (ES 1.02 ± 0.72) than did CWT (ES 1.22 ± 0.38) and PAS (ES 1.91 ± 0.67). Declines in static and countermovement jump were ameliorated best by COLD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An elite professional football match results in prolonged physical and psychometric deficits for 48 h. COLD was more successful at restoring physical performance and psychometric measures than CWT, with PAS being the poorest.
authors.affiliation: Inst of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: George P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Elias
authors.forename: Victoria L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Wyckelsma
authors.forename: Matthew C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Varley
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: McKenna
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Aughey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D056352:Athletes; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology; D017679:Cryotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007101:Immersion; D008297:Male; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D011594:Psychometrics; D055815:Young Adult