Faster physical performance recovery with cold water immersion is not related to lower muscle damage level in professional soccer players

The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of cold water immersion (CWI) after an intermittent test on the recovery kinetic of physical performance, muscle damage and perceived muscle soreness in professionals soccer players. In a randomized design, eight soccer players completed the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test followed by 10 min of either CWI (10C degrees) or thermoneutral water immersion (TWI) (28C degrees). Physical performance (Squat jump: SJ, countermovement jump: CMJ, maximal voluntary contraction: MVC, and 20 m sprint: SP), muscle damage parameter (creatine kinase: CK) and perceived muscle soreness were assessed at baseline, 0 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after the intermittent test. After the test, a decrease was observed in SJ and in CMJ at 0 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h with TWI (p < 0.05) and only at 0 h for SJ with CWI (p < 0.05). SP decreased at 24 h and 48 h after the test with TWI (p < 0.05) and only at 24 h with CWI (p < 0.05). MVC, CK activity and perceived muscle soreness increased in both condition after the test and returned to baseline levels 72 h after the test with TWI (p < 0.05) and at 48 h with CWI (p < 0.05). For the correlation between physical performance and muscle damage parameters in CWI session, the statistical analysis didn't reveal any significant link between CK and SJ, CMJ, MVC or SP values (p > 0.05). The results suggest that CWI immediately after an intermittent test reduces muscle damage and perceived muscle soreness, and accelerate recovery of physical performance in professional soccer players. However, the faster recovery of physical performance seems not be related to the lower level of muscle damage induced by CWI.