Exercise Recovery

Articles tagged with "Exercise Recovery".

Meta-analysis: Cwi vs Cwi + Other for Post-exercise Fatigue Recovery

Tags: Exercise Recovery, Cold Therapy, Drug Therapy, Research Review

January 16, 2026

Is Combining Ice Baths with Other Therapies Better Than Ice Baths Alone?

Yes, for some outcomes. This meta-analysis of 24 studies found that combining cold water immersion with other therapies reduced muscle soreness more than cold water alone. The combination also showed stronger anti-inflammatory effects.

Researchers analyzed data from 475 subjects across 24 studies. They compared cold water immersion (CWI) alone against cold water combined with other treatments like compression therapy, nutritional supplements, or massage. Both approaches helped with recovery, but the combination showed advantages for certain measures.

Meta-analysis: Efficacy of Different Cwi Temperatures For

Tags: Exercise Recovery, Cold Therapy, Drug Therapy, Research Review

January 16, 2026

Does Colder Water Work Better for Post-Exercise Recovery?

Not necessarily. This study of 36 young athletes found that 5°C and 10°C cold water immersion showed similar effects to passive rest for strength recovery. However, both cold water temperatures did increase muscle activation compared to just resting.

Researchers from Brazil tested whether colder water temperatures would speed up muscle recovery in soccer and basketball players. They compared very cold water (5°C), moderately cold water (10°C), and simple rest after a fatigue-inducing exercise. The results challenge the assumption that colder is always better.

Outdoor Swimming as an Intervention for Depression and Anxiety

Tags: Mental Health, Exercise Recovery, Evidence-Based Medicine

January 16, 2026

Can Outdoor Swimming Help Treat Depression?

Promising, but we need more research. This 2023 study describes a rigorous randomized controlled trial designed to test whether an 8-session outdoor swimming course can help adults with mild to moderate depression symptoms. The trial will compare outdoor swimming plus usual care against usual care alone.

Depression affects at least 1 in 10 people during their lifetime. Standard treatments like medication and therapy have modest recovery rates of 45-50%. Many people struggle with medication side effects or long waiting times for therapy. Researchers are now testing whether nature-based activities like outdoor swimming could offer another option.

Rct: Cold-water Immersion vs Massage for Doms After Crossfit Murph

Tags: Exercise Recovery, Pain Management, Cold Therapy, Drug Therapy

January 16, 2026

Is Cold Water or Massage Better for Muscle Soreness After CrossFit?

Cold water immersion wins. In this randomized trial, athletes who used cold water immersion after CrossFit Murph reported zero pain at rest or during exercise by 48 hours. Those who received massage still had some discomfort.

The Murph workout is one of CrossFit’s most demanding challenges. It includes a 1-mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 air squats, and another 1-mile run. This brutal workout commonly causes delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Researchers compared two popular recovery methods to see which works better.

Systematic Review: Effects of Cold Exposure on Cognitive Performance

Tags: Neurology, Exercise Recovery, Cold Therapy, Research Review

January 16, 2026

Can Cold Air or Cold Water Affect Your Brain Function?

Yes. This 2021 systematic review found that in 15 of 18 studies, cold exposure caused measurable drops in thinking ability. Attention, memory, processing speed, and executive function were all affected, and the impairment happened before body temperature dropped to dangerous levels.

Researchers analyzed studies from 1975 to 2021 that tested healthy adults in controlled cold environments. Eight studies used cold air chambers (temperatures from -10°C to 10°C), while ten studies used cold water immersion (temperatures from 4.7°C to 15°C).

Systematic Review/meta-analysis: Postexercise Cwi and Resistance

Tags: Exercise Recovery, Cold Therapy, Research Review, Evidence-Based Medicine

January 16, 2026

Do Ice Baths After Weight Training Hurt Muscle Growth?

Yes. This meta-analysis of 8 studies found that cold water immersion immediately after resistance training likely reduces muscle growth. The effect appears to be at least small in magnitude and applies to both trained and untrained individuals.

Researchers combined data from all available studies comparing resistance training alone versus resistance training followed by cold water immersion. While ice baths may help with short-term recovery, they appear to work against your long-term muscle-building goals.