Table 1 Effects of cooling and heating following resistance exercise on functional recovery and training adaptations
References | Participants | Exercise protocol | Post-exercise recovery method | Main finding | Main effect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Single post-exercise exposure | |||||
Argus et al. [33] | Recreationally trained subjects (13 M, 26 Y) | 3 × 5 deadlifts at 6 RM load + 3 × 10 back squats, bench presses, barbell lunges, and barbell bent-over rows at 11 RM load | Crossover design: Immersion up to the neck:  CWI: 15 °C for 14 min.  CWT: 1 min at 38 °C and 1 min at 38 °C for 14 min.  CON: 20 min PR (23 °C) | Similar MVIC KE torque and jump performance (CMJ) in the 3 conditions @ 5 min, 2 h and 4 h post-recovery | Ø of CWI and CWT on neuromuscular function @ 5 min to 4 h |
Gonzalez et al. [36] | Recreationally trained subjects (40 M, 22 Y) | 4x ~ 10 squats, deadlifts, and barbell split squats at 70–80% 1RM | 2 groups*:  CWI: 10–12 °C for 10 min  CON: 10 min PR. *exclusion of two groups (nutrition supplementation with/without CWI) | Similar number of reps and average power at 80% 1RM (squat) over four sets in CWI and CON groups @ 24–48 h post-Ex | Ø of CWI on fatigue resistance @ 24–48 h |
Jajtner et al. [37] | Recreationally trained subjects (30 M) | 4x ~ 10 squats, deadlifts, and barbell split squats at 70–80% 1RM | 2 groups*:  CWI: 10–12 °C for 10 min.  CON: 10 min PR. *exclusion of one group (neuromuscular electrical stimulation) |  Similar number of reps and average power at 80% 1RM (squat) over four sets in CWI and CON groups @ 24–48 h post-Ex | Ø of CWI on fatigue resistance @ 24–48 h |
Pointon et al. [20] | Recreationally trained subjects (10 M, 21 Y) | 6 × 25 maximal CONC (60°/s)/ECC (120°/s) single leg isokinetic KE. 20 °C | Crossover design:  CWC: ice cuff (exercised leg) for 20 min.  CON: 20 min PR | Similar MVIC KE torque, potentiated twitch torque and VA in CWC and CON @ 2, 24 and 48-h post-recovery. Similar voluntary EMG (RMS) and M-wave amplitude in CWC and CON @ 2, 24 and 48 h after recovery | Ø of CWI on neuromuscular function @ 2–48 h |
Roberts et al. [29] | Recreationally trained subjects (10 M, 21 Y) | 6 × squats to failure at 8–12 RM loads. 3 × 12 walking dumbbell lunges at 40% body mass load 3 × 12 countermovement DJ -24 °C, 49% RH | Crossover design.  CWI: 10 °C for 10 min (up to the clavicle).  CON: active recovery cycling at ~ 45 W for 10 min | Similar maximal isometric squat force and jump performance (SJ, CMJ) in CWI and CON @ 2–4 h after Ex. Greater recovery of average and total load lifted during 6 × 10 squats at 80% 1RM in CWI versus CON @ 6-h post-Ex | ↑ of CWI on fatigue resistance @ 6 h. Ø of CWI on maximal muscle function @ 2–4 h |
Roberts et al. [30] | Recreationally trained subjects (10 M, 21 Y) | 10 × 20 maximal isokinetic concentric KE at 90°/s. 24 °C and 43.5% RH | Crossover design:  CWI: 10 °C for 10 min.  CON: active recovery cycling at ~ 41 W for 10 min | Reduced MVIC KE torque @ 5, 20 and 40 min post-recovery in CON (vs. to pre-Ex) but not in CWI. Similar fatigue resistance (50 reps isokinetic KE at 90°/s) @ 60 min post-recovery in CWI and CON | ↑ of CWI on MVIC: @ 5–40 min. Ø of CWI on fatigue resistance @ 60 min |
Wilson et al. [31] | Recreationally trained subjects (24 M, 25 Y) | 80% 1RM:  4 × 6 back squats.  4 × 8 split squats, hip thrusts, Romanian deadlifts | 2 groups:  CWI: 10 °C for 10 min.  PLA: 10 min PR with ingestion of a cornstarch pill (placebo). *exclusion of one group (cryotherapy chamber) | Lower recovery of MVIC KE torque @ 24–48 h post-Ex in CWI versus PLA groups. Lower recovery of maximal isometric squat force in CWI versus PLA groups @ 48 h post-Ex, with similar recovery in the 2 groups @ 24 and 72 h post-Ex. Lower recovery of maximal isokinetic KE torque (60°/s) @ 24–48 h post-Ex in CWI versus PLA groups. Lower recovery of CMJ performance @ 48–72 h post-Ex in CWI versus PLA groups | ↓ of CWI (vs. PLA) on maximal strength and jump performance @24–72 h |
Repeated post-exercise exposures | |||||
Fröhlich et al. [34] | Recreationally trained subjects (17 M, 23 Y) | 5-wk RT (# session/wk not stated):  3 × 8–12 CONC and ECC knee flexions at 75–80% 1RM | Immersion after each session, contralateral limb-control design:  CWI: 3 × 4 min at 12 °C with 30 s rest.  CON (leg 2): PR | Similar increase in maximal force (1RM, KF) in CWI and CON. Lower increase in fatigue resistance (12RM, KF) in CWI versus CON | Ø of CWI on maximal strength. ↓ of CWI on fatigue resistance |
Fyfe et al. [35] | Recreationally trained subjects (16 M, 25 Y) | 7-wk RT (3 sessions/wk):  3 × 12-RM or 20-RM (20 upper and lower body and trunk Ex) | Immersion after each session, 2 groups:  CWI (up to the sternum): 10 °C for 15 min.  CON: 15 min PR | Similar increase in maximal force (1RM bench press and leg press) in both groups. Similar peak SJ force and push-up force in both groups after training. Smaller gain in peak CMJ force in CWI versus CON groups | Ø of CWI on maximal strength. Ballistic Ex: Ø (SJ and push-up) or ↓ (CMJ) of CWI |
Ohnishi et al. [39] | Recreationally trained subjects (16 M, 21 Y) | 6-wk RT (3 sessions/wk): 3 × 8-RM handgrip Ex | Unilateral immersion of the elbow joint and lower arm after each session. 2 groups.  CWI: 10 °C for 20 min.  CON: PR | No improvement of MVIC handgrip force in both CWI and CON groups. Improvement of fatigue resistance (number of reps at 30% RM with a pace of 30 reps/min) lower (tendency) in CWI versus CON | Ø of CWI on maximal strength. Potential ↓ of CWI on fatigue resistance |
Poppendieck et al. [53] | Recreationally trained subjects (9 M and 2 F, 25 Y) | 8-wk RT (3 sessions/wk):  3 × 10-RM (leg press, KF and KE) | Immersion after each session, crossover design (8-wk washout period):  CWI (up to the neck): 14–15 °C for 10 min.  CON: 10 min PR | No improvement of maximal force (1-RM leg press) and jump performance (CMJ) in both CWI and CON | Ø of CWI on maximal strength and jump performance |
Roberts et al. [55] | Recreationally trained subjects (24 M, 21 Y) | 12-wk RT (2 sessions/wk):  3–6 × 8–12 reps at 8–12 RM loads (leg press, KE, KF) and 3 × 10–18 reps (walking lunges, plyometrics).  23–25 °C | Immersion after each session, 2 groups:  CWI: 10 °C for 10 min.  CON: 10 min active recovery cycling at ~ 60 W | Lower increase in maximal force (leg press force, KE force and MVIC KE torque) in CWI versus CON groups. No improvement of maximal isokinetic KE torque (90°/s) in both groups. Fatigue resistance (50 reps isokinetic KE at 90°/s): increase after training only in CON group over 1–25 reps | ↓ of CWI on maximal force (except isokinetic torque). ↓ of CWI on fatigue resistance |
Stadnyk et al. [25] | Recreationally trained subjects (5 M and 5 F, 21 Y) | 12-wk RT (2–3 sessions/wk):  4 × 8 reps at 70% 1RM (ECC and CONC single limb KE) | Contralateral limb-control design:  Heat (heat pad wrapped around the thigh): ~ 40 °C during and for 20 min after each session.  CON: PR | Similar increase in peak and mean isokinetic torque (CONC KE at 90°/s) in heat and CON legs | Ø of Heat on muscle strength |
Yamane et al. [32] | Contralateral limb-control design:  Sedentary subjects (7 M + 4 F, 20 Y) 2 groups (unilateral immersion):  Sedentary subjects (16 M, 21 Y) | 4-wk RT (3 sessions/wk):  3 × 8 isotonic handgrip Ex at 70–80% 1RM.  25 °C, 50% RH | Unilateral immersion of the elbow joint and lower arm after each session. Contralateral limb-control design:  CWI: 10 °C for 20 min.  CON: PR. 2 groups.  CWI: 10 °C for 20 min.  CON: PR | Similar increase in MVIC handgrip force in CWI and CON (both experiments). Improvement of fatigue resistance (number of reps at 30% RM with a pace of 30 reps/min) lower in CWI versus CON (contralateral limb-control design), or similar in CWI and CON groups (2 groups) | Ø of CWI on maximal strength. Ø or ↓ of CWI on fatigue resistance |
Yamane et al. [38] | Recreationally trained subjects (14 M, 20 Y) | 6-wk RT (3 sessions/wk):  5 × 8 wrist-flexion at 70–80% 1RM.  25 °C, 50% RH | Unilateral immersion of the elbow joint and lower arm after each session. 2 groups.  CWI: 10 °C for 20 min.  CON: PR | Improvement of MVIC wrist flexor force lower in CWI versus CON. Improvement of fatigue resistance (number of reps at 35% RM with a pace of 30 reps/min) lower (tendency) in CWI versus CON | ↓ of CWI on maximal strength and fatigue resistance |