1Institute of Sport, Exercise and Active Living, Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA; and 2College of Sport and Exercise Science, Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA.
Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2014 Nov;46(11):2139-47. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000000348.
Despite a general lack of understanding of the underlying mechanisms, cold water immersion (CWI) is widely used by athletes for recovery. This study examined the physiological merit of CWI for recovery from high-intensity exercise by investigating if the placebo effect is responsible for any acute performance or psychological benefits.
Thirty males (mean ± SD: age, 24 ± 5 yr; VO2 peak, 51.1 ± 7.0 mL · kg(-1) · min(-1)) performed an acute high-intensity interval training session, comprised of 4 × 30-s sprints, immediately followed by one of the following three 15-min recovery conditions: CWI (10.3°C ± 0.2°C), thermoneutral water immersion placebo (TWP) (34.7°C ± 0.1°C), or thermoneutral water immersion control (TWI) (34.7°C ± 0.1°C). An intramuscular thermistor was inserted during exercise and recovery to record muscle temperature. Swelling (thigh girth), pain threshold/tolerance, interleukin 6 concentration, and total leukocyte, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts were recorded at baseline, postexercise, postrecovery, and 1, 24, and 48 h postexercise. A maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) of the quadriceps was performed at the same time points, with the exception of postexercise. Self-assessments of readiness for exercise, fatigue, vigor, sleepiness, pain, and belief of recovery effectiveness were also completed.
Leg strength after the MVC and ratings of readiness for exercise, pain, and vigor were significantly impaired in TWI compared with those in CWI and TWP which were similar to each other.
A recovery placebo administered after an acute high-intensity interval training session is superior in the recovery of muscle strength over 48 h as compared with TWI and is as effective as CWI. This can be attributed to improved ratings of readiness for exercise, pain, and vigor, suggesting that the commonly hypothesized physiological benefits surrounding CWI are at least partly placebo related.
尽管人们对其潜在机制普遍缺乏了解，但冷水浸泡（CWI）仍被运动员广泛用于恢复。本研究通过调查安慰剂效应是否对任何急性运动表现或心理益处负责，来研究 CWI 对高强度运动后恢复的生理益处。
30 名男性（平均±标准差：年龄 24±5 岁；峰值摄氧量 51.1±7.0 mL·kg(-1)·min(-1)）进行了一次急性高强度间歇训练，包括 4 次 30 秒冲刺，随后立即进行以下三种 15 分钟恢复条件之一：CWI（10.3°C±0.2°C）、温水浸泡安慰剂（TWP）（34.7°C±0.1°C）或温水浸泡对照（TWI）（34.7°C±0.1°C）。在运动和恢复过程中插入肌内热敏电阻以记录肌肉温度。肿胀（大腿周长）、疼痛阈值/耐受度、白细胞介素 6 浓度以及总白细胞、中性粒细胞和淋巴细胞计数在基线、运动后、恢复后以及运动后 1、24 和 48 小时进行记录。在相同的时间点进行股四头肌最大等长收缩（MVC）测试，除了运动后时间点。还完成了对运动准备度、疲劳、活力、困倦、疼痛和恢复效果信心的自我评估。
与 TWI 相比，CWI 和 TWP 可显著改善 MVC 后的腿部力量以及运动准备度、疼痛和活力的评分，而 TWI 则与之相似。
与 TWI 相比，急性高强度间歇训练后给予的恢复安慰剂在 48 小时内恢复肌肉力量方面更具优势，且与 CWI 效果相当。这可以归因于运动准备度、疼痛和活力的评分得到改善，这表明围绕 CWI 的常见假设的生理益处至少部分与安慰剂有关。
