Table 1.
Characteristics of the included studies
| Study, year | Study design | Characteristics of participantsa | Exercise protocol | CWI group | Control group | Soreness assessment | Time of assessment | Time of analysis and soreness valuesb | PEDro score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leeder et al. [22], 2015 | Parallel groups |
N = 24 Male; well-trained 21 ± 3 years |
Intermittent shuttle running | 14° C; 14 min; n = 8 TI: immediately post-exercise WL: DNR BP: standing |
Remained seated; 14 min; n = 8 | VAS = 0–200 mm Squat at 90 ° knee flexion |
24, 48, 72 h post-exercise | 24 h post-exercise (CG: 5.5 ± 2.6; CWI: 4.8 ± 1.5) | 6 |
| Crystal et al. [25], 2013 | Parallel groups |
N = 20 Male 21.2 ± 2.3 years |
Downhill run | 5 ± 2 °C; 20 min; n = 10 TI: immediately post-exercise WL: up to top of the thigh BP: DNR |
Position: DNR; n = 10 | VAS = 0–100 mm Leg soreness while walking down the stairs |
Immediately, 1, 6, 24, 48, 72 h post-exercise | 1 h post-exercise (CG: 3.2 ± 1.7; CWI: 4.5 ± 2.0) 24 h post-exercise (CG: 4.8 ± 2.8; CWI: 7.0 ± 1.5) |
4 |
| Getto and Golden [26], 2013 | Parallel groups |
N = 23 13 male; 10 female Age: DNR |
Exhaustive exercise session | 10 °C; 10 min; n = 7 TI: immediately post-exercise WL: up to level of chest BP: seated |
Remained seated; 10 min; n = 8 | VAS = 0–60 Calves, quadriceps, hamstrings, hip adductors, hip abductors, and low back |
Immediately post-exercise and immediately and 24 h post-intervention | Immediately post-intervention (CG: 1.99 ± 2.56; CWI: 1.75 ± 0.78) 24 h post-exercise (CG: 1.7 ± 1.8; CWI: 2.7 ± 1.88) |
3 |
| Elias et al. [27], 2013 | Parallel groups |
N = 24 Male; Australian Football players 19.9 ± 2.8 years |
Australian Football match | 12 °C; 14 min; n = 7 TI: within 12 min post-exercise WL: up to xiphoid process BP: seated with legs stretched out |
Remained seated; 14 min; n = 8 | VAS = 0–100 mm DNR |
Immediately, 1, 24, 48 h post-exercise | 1 h post-exercise (CG: 0.66 ± 0.16; CWI: 0.45 ± 0.1) 24 h post-exercise (CG: 0.75 ± 0.14; CWI: 0.47 ± 0.07) |
4 |
| Elias et al. [23], 2012 | Crossover |
N = 14 Male; Australian Football players 20.9 ± 3.3 years |
Australian Football training | 12 °C; 14 min; n = 14 TI: within 12 min post-exercise WL: up to xiphoid process BP: seated with legs stretched out |
Remained seated; 14 min; n = 14 | VAS = 0–100 mm DNR |
Immediately, 1, 24, 48 h post-exercise | 1 h post-exercise (CG: 0.54 ± 0.19; CWI: 0.30 ± 0.12) 24 h post-exercise (CG: 0.79 ± 0.08; CWI: 0.34 ± 0.13) |
5 |
| Stanley et al. [24], 2012 | Crossover |
N = 18 Male; cyclists 27 ± 7 years |
High-intensity interval session | 14.2 ± 0.6 °C; 5 min; n = 18 TI: 20 min post-exercise WL: body excluding head and neck BP: DNR |
Remained seated; 10 min; n = 18 | VAS = 1–10 Leg soreness |
Immediately post-intervention | Immediately post-intervention (CG: 5.4 ± 0.9; CWI: 4.5 ± 0.9) | 5 |
| Brophy-Williams et al. [2], 2011 | Cross-over |
N = 8 Male; well-trained 20.9 ± 1.2 years |
High-intensity interval session | 15 ± 1 °C; 15 min; n = 8 TI: immediately post-exercise WL: up to mid-sternum BP: DNR |
Remained seated; 15 min; n = 8 | VAS = 0–7 DNR |
24 h post-exercise | 24 h post-exercise (CG: 0.94 ± 1.19; CWI: 3.92 ± 0.91) | 4 |
| Jakeman et al. [28], 2009 | Parallel groups |
N = 18 Female; athletes 19.9 ± 0.97 years |
Counter-movement jumps | 10 ± 1 °C; 10 min; n = 9 TI: within 10 min post-exercise WL: up to level of the superior iliac crest BP: seated with leg at 90 ° to the torso |
Remained seated; 10 min; n = 9 | VAS = 0–10 Unweighted squat at 90 ° knee flexion |
1, 24, 48, 72, 96 h post-exercise | 1 h post-exercise (CG: 1.1 ± 1.2; CWI: 1.6 ± 0.8) 48 h post-exercise (CG: 3.8 ± 0.9; CWI: 3.0 ± 0.9) |
3 |
| Bailey et al. [9], 2007 | Parallel groups |
N = 20 Male; healthy 22.3±3.3 years |
Intermittent shuttle running | 10 ± 0.5 °C; 10 min; n = 10 TI: immediately post-exercise WL: up to level of iliac crest BP: seated |
Remained seated; 10 min; n = 10 | VAS = 1–10 General whole-body soreness; palpation of major muscle group |
Immediately, 1, 24, 48, 168 h post-exercise | 1 h post-exercise (CG: 5.13 ± 1.62; CWI: 3.15 ± 1.42) 24 h post-exercise (CG: 6.12 ± 1.98; CWI: 4.23 ± 0.84) |
4 |
BP body position, CWI cold water immersion, CG control group, DNR data not reported, PEDro Physiotherapy Evidence Database, TI time of immersion, VAS Visual Analog Scale, WL water level
aAge data are mean ± standard deviation
bSoreness values converted to a common 0–10 scale