Exercise Adaptation

Cold Water Immersion Eases Soreness Now but May Blunt Muscle Growth Later: A Decision Framework for Athletes

Cold water immersion (CWI) effectively reduces post-exercise soreness and fatigue by dampening physiological signals, but this can interfere with long-term muscle growth. Athletes must strategically time CWI based on training goals: use it immediately during competition phases and delay it during hypertrophy phases.