Cold water immersion: acute recovery benefits, long‑term tradeoffs

Recent network meta-analytic work evaluates how CWI dose (time/temp) influences recovery after acute muscle damage. But for resistance training, a meta‑analysis titled “Throwing cold water on muscle growth” suggests post‑exercise CWI may reduce hypertrophy gains (effects may be modest, but direction matters).

Try this: reserve CWI for competition phases or high‑frequency training blocks; avoid immediate post‑lift plunges during hypertrophy blocks.

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