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Evidence Review

Cold Plunges Research

33 PubMed-cited studies reviewed. Cold plunge tubs, ice baths, and portable cold therapy.

Studies & Evidence (33)

Cold water immersion reduces DOMS and accelerates recovery markers

Liu S et al.Medicine (Baltimore)(2026)

Effects of cold water immersion vs body cryotherapy on delayed onset muscle soreness and jump performance following acute strenuous exercise in physically active participants: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Cold showers show antidepressant effects via noradrenergic activation

Cain T et al.PLoS One(2025)

Effects of cold-water immersion on health and wellbeing: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Cold water immersion reduces DOMS and accelerates recovery markers

Wang H et al.Front Physiol(2025)

Impact of different doses of cold water immersion (duration and temperature variations) on recovery from acute exercise-induced muscle damage: a network meta-analysis.

Cold water immersion reduces DOMS and accelerates recovery markers

Pereira GS et al.PLoS One(2025)

Effectiveness of cold-water immersion vs. massage in reducing delayed-onset muscle soreness and enhancing recovery following CrossFit® Murph Workout: Randomized rial.

Cold water immersion reduces DOMS and accelerates recovery markers

Ma J et al.Life (Basel)(2025)

Comparison of the Effects of Cold-Water Immersion Applied Alone and Combined Therapy on the Recovery of Muscle Fatigue After Exercise: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Cold immersion significantly raises norepinephrine and activates brown fat

Hohenauer E et al.J Physiol(2025)

Potential health benefits of cold-water immersion: the central role of PGC-1α.

Cold showers show antidepressant effects via noradrenergic activation

Epel ES et al.Ann Behav Med(2025)

A randomized controlled pilot trial of low and high arousal resilience interventions for depressive symptoms.

Cold showers show antidepressant effects via noradrenergic activation

Blades R et al.Compr Psychoneuroendocrinol(2024)

A randomized controlled clinical trial of a Wim Hof Method intervention in women with high depressive symptoms.

Cold water immersion reduces DOMS and accelerates recovery markers

Chen R et al.BMC Musculoskelet Disord(2024)

The effects of hydrotherapy and cryotherapy on recovery from acute post-exercise induced muscle damage-a network meta-analysis.

Whole-body cryotherapy improves recovery speed in high-performance athletes

Jeyaraman M et al.Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol(2024)

Whole-body cryotherapy in orthopaedics: current concepts.

Cold exposure modulates inflammatory cytokines and reduces systemic inflammation

Shalabi M et al.J Appl Oral Sci(2024)

Effect of submucosal cryotherapy compared with steroids and NSAIDs injections on Substance P and Interleukin 6 pulpal release in experimentally induced pulpal inflammation in rabbits.

Cold water immersion reduces DOMS and accelerates recovery markers

Xiao F et al.Front Physiol(2023)

Effects of cold water immersion after exercise on fatigue recovery and exercise performance--meta analysis.

Cold water immersion reduces DOMS and accelerates recovery markers

Fakhro MA et al.J Exp Orthop(2022)

Comparison of total cold-water immersion's effects to ice massage on recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage.

Cold water immersion reduces DOMS and accelerates recovery markers

Angelopoulos P et al.Healthcare (Basel)(2022)

Cold-Water Immersion and Sports Massage Can Improve Pain Sensation but Not Functionality in Athletes with Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness.

Whole-body cryotherapy improves recovery speed in high-performance athletes

Glattke KE et al.J Bone Joint Surg Am(2022)

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Recovery and Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review.

Whole-body cryotherapy improves recovery speed in high-performance athletes

Partridge EM et al.Sports (Basel)(2021)

Pre-Exercise Whole- or Partial-Body Cryotherapy Exposure to Improve Physical Performance: A Systematic Review.

Cold water immersion reduces DOMS and accelerates recovery markers

Afonso J et al.Front Physiol(2021)

The Effectiveness of Post-exercise Stretching in Short-Term and Delayed Recovery of Strength, Range of Motion and Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Whole-body cryotherapy improves recovery speed in high-performance athletes

Cullen ML et al.Curr Sports Med Rep(2021)

Passive Recovery Strategies after Exercise: A Narrative Literature Review of the Current Evidence.

Cold water immersion reduces DOMS and accelerates recovery markers

Coelho TM et al.J Sports Sci Med(2021)

Post-Match Recovery in Soccer with Far-Infrared Emitting Ceramic Material or Cold-Water Immersion.

Cold exposure modulates inflammatory cytokines and reduces systemic inflammation

Zhang S et al.J Cardiovasc Pharmacol(2019)

Atorvastatin Attenuates Cold-Induced Hypertension by Preventing Gut Barrier Injury.

Whole-body cryotherapy improves recovery speed in high-performance athletes

Partridge EM et al.Front Physiol(2019)

Whole-Body Cryotherapy: Potential to Enhance Athlete Preparation for Competition?

Whole-body cryotherapy improves recovery speed in high-performance athletes

Patel K et al.Curr Sports Med Rep(2019)

Whole-Body Cryotherapy in Sports Medicine.

Cold exposure modulates inflammatory cytokines and reduces systemic inflammation

Walladbegi J et al.J Oral Pathol Med(2018)

Cooling of the oral mucosa to prevent adverse effects of chemotherapeutic agents: An in vitro study.

Whole-body cryotherapy improves recovery speed in high-performance athletes

Rose C et al.Int J Sports Med(2017)

Whole-body Cryotherapy as a Recovery Technique after Exercise: A Review of the Literature.

Whole-body cryotherapy improves recovery speed in high-performance athletes

Abaïdia AE et al.Int J Sports Physiol Perform(2017)

Recovery From Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: Cold-Water Immersion Versus Whole-Body Cryotherapy.

Cold showers show antidepressant effects via noradrenergic activation

Ho M et al.J Altern Complement Med(2015)

The Association Between Behavior Restrictions in Doing-the-Month Practice and Mental Health Status Among Postpartum Women.

Whole-body cryotherapy improves recovery speed in high-performance athletes

Krüger M et al.Int J Sports Physiol Perform(2015)

Whole-body cryotherapy's enhancement of acute recovery of running performance in well-trained athletes.

Cold exposure modulates inflammatory cytokines and reduces systemic inflammation

Ziemann E et al.Eur Cytokine Netw(2014)

Whole-body cryostimulation as an effective way of reducing exercise-induced inflammation and blood cholesterol in young men.

Whole-body cryotherapy improves recovery speed in high-performance athletes

Bleakley CM et al.Open Access J Sports Med(2014)

Whole-body cryotherapy: empirical evidence and theoretical perspectives.

Cold exposure modulates inflammatory cytokines and reduces systemic inflammation

Lubkowska A et al.Scand J Clin Lab Invest(2011)

The effect of prolonged whole-body cryostimulation treatment with different amounts of sessions on chosen pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines levels in healthy men.

Cold exposure modulates inflammatory cytokines and reduces systemic inflammation

Banfi G et al.Sports Med(2010)

Whole-body cryotherapy in athletes.

Cold showers show antidepressant effects via noradrenergic activation

Habas AB et al.Am J Med(2003)

Cases from the Osler Medical Service at Johns Hopkins University.

Cold immersion significantly raises norepinephrine and activates brown fat

Carstens GE et al.J Anim Sci(1997)

Genotypic effects on norepinephrine-induced changes in thermogenesis, metabolic hormones, and metabolites in newborn calves.

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