Cold and Warm Water for Performance Recovery

NCT ID: NCT04902924

Last Updated: 2025-10-07

Study Results

Results available

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

30 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-10-01

Study Completion Date

2022-05-01

Brief Summary

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The overall aim of this study is, to evaluate the effectiveness of repeated cold- and warm water immersion on performance recovery after muscle damage.

Detailed Description

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Participants perform a muscle-damage protocol, which comprises 5x20 drop jumps. After the exercise protocol is finished, the participants will undergo one of three recovery interventions. Cold-water immersion, Warm-water immersion or the control-intervention. During the exercise protocol and the recovery intervention following parameters will be assessed: Blood oxygenation, Muscle oxygenation, heart-rate, skin temperature and core temperature.

Then, performance recovery will be assessed during the following 72 hrs (in a 24 hrs interval).

At each time-point, following measurements will be conducted: vertical-jump performance, maximum voluntary isometric contraction of the m.quadriceps femoris muscle, muscle swelling and delayed-onset of muscle soreness.

Conditions

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Healthy

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

This study is a randomized controlled trial
Primary Study Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Repeated cold-water immersion

In this arm, the participants undergo repeated cold water immersion at 10°C for 2 x 5 min. Between the immersion, a break will be conducted 2.5 min. Participants will be immersed up to the iliac crest

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

repeated cold water therapy

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This information can be found the description of the experimental arm.

Repeated warm-water immersion

In this arm, the participants undergo repeated warm water immersion at 40°C for 2 x 5 min. Between the immersion, a break will be conducted 2.5 min. Participants will be immersed up to the iliac crestParticipants will be immersed up to the iliac crest.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

repeated warm water therapy

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

This information can be found the description of the experimental arm.

Control

In this arm, the participants undergo the control intervention which comprises to remain seated for 12.5 min. The participants, that will perform the muscle damaging protocol under hypoxia will also be treated with the control condition.

Group Type OTHER

control

Intervention Type OTHER

This information can be found the description of the experimental arm.

Interventions

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repeated cold water therapy

This information can be found the description of the experimental arm.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

repeated warm water therapy

This information can be found the description of the experimental arm.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

control

This information can be found the description of the experimental arm.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Healthy participants
* No surgeries
* No previous injuries
* Anticonceptiva allowed

Exclusion Criteria

* Acute injuries or current pain situations
* Cryophobia
* Fear
* Pregnancy
* Raynaud syndrome
* Medication intake
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

35 Years

Eligible Sex

FEMALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Ron Clijsen

Head of research

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Ron Clijsen, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland

Locations

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University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland

Landquart, Kanton Graubünden, Switzerland

Site Status

Countries

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Switzerland

References

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Wellauer V, Clijsen R, Bianchi G, Riggi E, Hohenauer E. No acceleration of recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage after cold or hot water immersion in women: A randomised controlled trial. PLoS One. 2025 May 7;20(5):e0322416. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0322416. eCollection 2025.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 40333546 (View on PubMed)

Hohenauer E, Bianchi G, Wellauer V, Taube W, Clijsen R. Acute physiological responses and muscle recovery in females: a randomised controlled trial of muscle damaging exercise in hypoxia. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2024 Mar 22;16(1):70. doi: 10.1186/s13102-024-00861-1.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 38520001 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Related Links

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Other Identifiers

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2021-00546

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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