title: Cold-Water Immersion and Contrast Water Therapy: No Improvement of Short-Term Recovery After Resistance Training.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An athlete's ability to recover quickly is important when there is limited time between training and competition. As such, recovery strategies are commonly used to expedite the recovery process.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effectiveness of both cold-water immersion (CWI) and contrast water therapy (CWT) compared with control on short-term recovery (<4 h) after a single full-body resistance-training session.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirteen men (age 26 ± 5 y, weight 79 ± 7 kg, height 177 ± 5 cm) were assessed for perceptual (fatigue and soreness) and performance measures (maximal voluntary isometric contraction [MVC] of the knee extensors, weighted and unweighted countermovement jumps) before and immediately after the training session. Subjects then completed 1 of three 14-min recovery strategies (CWI, CWT, or passive sitting [CON]), with the perceptual and performance measures reassessed immediately, 2 h, and 4 h postrecovery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peak torque during MVC and jump performance were significantly decreased (P < .05) after the resistance-training session and remained depressed for at least 4 h postrecovery in all conditions. Neither CWI nor CWT had any effect on perceptual or performance measures over the 4-h recovery period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CWI and CWT did not improve short-term (<4-h) recovery after a conventional resistance-training session.
authors.forename: Christos K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Argus
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Broatch
authors.forename: Aaron C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Remco
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Polman
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: Shona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Halson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D003080:Cold Temperature; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D006875:Hydrotherapy; D007101:Immersion; D007537:Isometric Contraction; D008297:Male; D018763:Muscle Fatigue; D063806:Myalgia / Q000534:rehabilitation; D020127:Recovery of Function; D055070:Resistance Training; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: MVC; countermovement jump; hydrotherapy; weight training