Is active recovery during cold water immersion better than active or passive recovery in thermoneutral water for postrecovery high-intensity sprint interval performance?

High-intensity exercise is impaired by increased esophageal temperature (T-es) above 38 degrees C and/or decreased muscle temperature. We compared the effects of three 30-min recovery strategies following a first set of three 30-s Wingate tests (set 1), on a similar postrecovery set of Wingate tests (set 2). Recovery conditions were passive recovery in thermoneutral (34 degrees C) water (Passive-TN) and active recovery (underwater cycling; similar to 33% maximum power) in thermoneutral (Active-TN) or cold (15 degrees C) water (Active-C). T-es rose for all conditions by the end of set 1 (similar to 1.0 degrees C). After recovery, T-es returned to baseline in both Active-C and Passive-TN but remained elevated in Active-TN (p < 0.05). At the end of set 2, T-es was lower in Active-C (37.2 degrees C) than both Passive-TN (38.1 degrees C) and Active-TN (38.8 degrees C) (p < 0.05). From set 1 to 2 mean power did not change with Passive-TN (+0.2%), increased with Active-TN (+2.4%; p < 0.05), and decreased with Active-C (-3.2%; p < 0.05). Heart rate was similar between conditions throughout, except at end-recovery; it was lower in Passive-TN (92 beats.min(-1)) than both exercise conditions (Active-TN, 126 beats.min(-1); Active-C, 116 beats.min(-1)) (p < 0.05). Although Active-C significantly reduced T-es, the best postrecovery performance occurred with Active-TN. Novelty An initial set of 3 Wingates increased T-es to similar to 38 degrees C. Thirty minutes of Active-C was well tolerated, and decreased T-es and blood lactate to baseline values, but decreased subsequent Wingate performance.