Effects of Whole-Body Cold-Water Immersion, With and Without Sauna, on Cognitive and Metabolic Markers in Healthy, Active Adults
Study Details
This new crossover study examined how cold-water immersion (CWI) and alternating cold + sauna exposure affected cognition and metabolism in 20 healthy, active adults 🔍
Participants completed 10 min of CWI at 10°C, contrast therapy alternating 2 min of 10°C water and an 82°C sauna, or a thermoneutral control 🧊
Key Findings
🔥 Five minutes after exposure, fat oxidation was higher after CWI (0.17 g/min) than contrast therapy (0.11 g/min) or control (0.09 g/min)
⏱️ The CWI effect was short-lived, with no significant difference from control by 20 min
🔥 Contrast therapy showed a more delayed response, with higher fat oxidation than control 20 min after exposure
🚴 During subsequent cycling at 20–30% Wmax, contrast therapy increased fat oxidation versus control by approximately 0.13–0.15 g/min
🧠 CWI improved reaction time from baseline and produced faster reactions than contrast therapy immediately afterwards
↔️ However, reaction time after CWI was not significantly faster than control immediately post-exposure
📉 Contrast therapy was associated with poorer processing speed later in testing, suggesting alternating hot and cold exposure may not offer the same cognitive effect
🫀 During low-intensity cycling, heart rate was approximately 10 bpm lower after contrast therapy than control
🌡️ Core temperature and perceived exertion did not differ between conditions
⚠️ The study included only 20 active adults, measured acute responses only and did not assess exercise performance or fat loss
Conclusion
For athletes, brief cold-water immersion may provide a short-lived increase in alertness and fat oxidation, while alternating sauna and cold exposure may prolong changes in low-intensity fat oxidation; neither finding currently demonstrates an improvement in sporting performance ✅
Reference
https://researchdirects.com/index.php/strengthandperformance/article/view/229
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