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3w ago

Study Finds No Muscle Recovery Benefits from Cold or Hot Water Immersion in Women

A landmark trial challenges long-held assumptions about hydrotherapy, emphasizing the need for gender-specific sports science research.

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Women practicing necessary steps for ice bath therapy, pinching their noses with their fingers to hold their breath, listening carefully to the instructor, mentally preparing for a new and revitalizing healing experience

Overview

  • The randomized controlled trial, published in PLOS ONE, tested cold and hot water immersion on 30 women after intense exercise and found no measurable improvements in recovery.
  • Researchers assessed muscle strength, soreness, swelling, and creatine kinase levels over 72 hours, with no significant differences observed between immersion and control groups.
  • This study is one of the first to focus exclusively on women, addressing a gap in sports science research historically centered on male participants.
  • While no objective recovery benefits were found, the study notes potential psychological effects, such as feeling refreshed, may still influence perceived recovery.
  • The authors recommend further research in real-world settings, with diverse populations and varying protocols, to better understand hydrotherapy's role in recovery.