---
title: "The effects of cold water immersion and active recovery on…"
description: "Cold water immersion is not superior to active recovery for reducing muscle inflammation and stress after resistance exercise."
url: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/cold.md"
canonical: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/cold.html"
html: "https://magellanlongevity.com/study/cold.html"
type: "study"
study_key: "cold"
journal: "The Journal of Physiology"
year: 2017
pmid: "27704555"
doi: "10.1113/JP272881"
citations: 1
updated: 2026-09-02
author: "Gabriel Radu, DO"
author_credentials: "Physiatrist (PM&R). NY medical license 275110. NPI 1376861765."
publisher: "Magellan Longevity"
content_format: "markdown"
---

# The effects of cold water immersion and active recovery on inflammation and cell stress responses in human skeletal muscle after resistance exercise

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## Citation

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Journal | The Journal of Physiology |
| Year | 2017 |
| PMID | [27704555](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27704555/) |
| DOI | [10.1113/JP272881](https://doi.org/10.1113/JP272881) |
| Study key | cold |

## Takeaway

Cold water immersion is not superior to active recovery for reducing muscle inflammation and stress after resistance exercise.

## The question

Does cold water immersion reduce inflammation and cellular stress in human skeletal muscle after resistance exercise more effectively than active recovery?

## Hypothesis

The study implicitly tests the common assumption that cold water immersion reduces inflammation in skeletal muscle.

## Methods

Nine active men performed unilateral lower-body resistance exercise on two separate days. After exercise, they either immersed their lower body in 10°C cold water for 10 minutes or cycled at a low intensity for 10 minutes (active recovery). Muscle biopsies were collected before, 2, 24, and 48 hours after exercise to assess inflammatory cells, pro-inflammatory cytokines, neurotrophins, and heat shock proteins.

## Results

Exercise increased intramuscular neutrophil and macrophage counts, MAC1 and CD163 mRNA expression, and the mRNA expression of several pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL1β, TNF, IL6, CCL2, CCL4, CXCL2, IL8, LIF). Neurotrophin expression (NGF and GDNF mRNA) also increased, and cytosolic αB-crystallin and HSP70 protein content decreased, with corresponding increases in cytoskeletal αB-crystallin and type II fiber staining. However, there were no significant differences in these inflammatory and stress responses between the cold water immersion and active recovery treatments.

## Conclusion

Cold water immersion is not more effective than active recovery in minimizing inflammatory and cellular stress responses in human skeletal muscle after resistance exercise.

## Limitations

The study involved a small sample size of nine active men, and the findings may not be generalizable to other populations or exercise types.

## Verbatim from the abstract

> Cold water immersion is a common post-exercise recovery treatment assumed to reduce inflammation in skeletal muscle and influence cellular stress responses.

## Where this study is used on Magellan

This paper is one of the citations behind the evidence grade on the pages below. Grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of affiliate commissions.

| Compound or device | Evidence grade | Graded pages |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Contrast Therapy Systems (Sauna + Cold + Light) | — | — |
| Cold Plunge & Ice-Bath Systems | — | — |

## Reference

1. **The effects of cold water immersion and active recovery on inflammation and cell stress responses in human skeletal muscle after resistance exercise**
   The Journal of Physiology 2017 · [PMID 27704555](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27704555/) · [DOI 10.1113/JP272881](https://doi.org/10.1113/JP272881)

   > Cold water immersion is a common post-exercise recovery treatment assumed to reduce inflammation in skeletal muscle and influence cellular stress responses.

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## Scope and disclosures

Educational information, not medical advice. Nothing here is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk to your physician before starting any supplement or device, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medication.

Editorial firewall: evidence grades are assigned from the published research and are independent of any affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate, Magellan Longevity earns from qualifying purchases.

Reviewed for accuracy by a board-certified physician (DO).