Cold Vs Warm Water Immersion for DOMS Recovery
Recruiting now · Not applicable
Conditions studied: Muscle Soreness
In brief
The study investigates the effectiveness of physical strategies in addressing Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) in physically active individuals. DOMS, a common phenomenon following intense or novel physical activity, is characterized by pain, inflammation, and functional impairments such as reduced range of motion, muscle strength, and endurance. These symptoms peak between 24-72 hours post-exercise and are attributed to micro-damage in muscle and connective tissue, followed by inflammatory responses. Despite extensive research, the efficacy of various therapeutic interventions remains inconclusive due to heterogeneity in study designs, outcome measures, and quality of evidence. The primary objective of this study is to systematically assess and compare the effectiveness of cold water immersion (CWI) or hot water immersion (HWI), in mitigating DOMS symptoms. This study will utilize a multi-arm, parallel, randomized controlled trial (RCT) design to evaluate therapeutic outcomes against a control group receiving simulated therapy. By employing a standardized exercise protocol to induce DOMS and unified assessment methodologies (e.g., biomechanical, biochemical, and functional tests), the study aims to provide robust evidence for the efficacy of these interventions. The findings will contribute to optimizing post-exercise recovery strategies, offering reliable therapeutic protocols for both clinical and athletic settings.
Key facts
- Study ID
- NCT06804564
- Run by
- Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education
- People needed
- 52
- Starts
- 2025-01-10
- Expected to finish
- 2025-03-31
- Last updated by the study team
- 2025-02-11
Who can join
Age: 18 and older, up to 25. Sex: male. Healthy volunteers: accepted.
You may qualify if…
- Healthy males aged 18-25 years
- BMI between 18.5 and 30 kg/m²
- Experiencing muscle pain (VAS scale) > 5 for muscle soreness within 12 to 30 hours post-exercise
- Engage in moderate physical activity 2-5 hours/week, according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF).
- They must voluntarily sign a written informed consent approved by an ethics/bioethics committee after sufficient explanation prior to participating in the study.
You may not qualify if…
- Inflammatory diseases within the past 6 months
- Neurological disorders that affect muscle strength
- Ongoing use of steroids, analgesics, muscle relaxants, or other medications deemed inappropriate by the researchers, including antispasmodics, antidepressants, antidiarrheals, antibiotics, or thrombolytics
- Unstable medical condition such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, gastrointestinal disease, hepatobiliary disease, metabolic disease, endocrine disease, kidney disease, urinary tract disease, genetic disorders, or issues related to the nervous system or mental health.
- Participants who have abused alcohol or drugs in the past year, do not wish to follow the study guidelines, or are deemed inappropriate for the study by the researcher will also be excluded.
Where it is running
- Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego w Warszawie — Biała Podlaska, Lublin Voivodeship, Poland (enrolling)
Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov
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