Cold-water recovery study reports no pain at a later assessment
After a demanding CrossFit workout, cold-water participants reported no pain at the reported follow-up, but the abstract gives too little massage data to judge the difference.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The researchers report that cold-water participants had no pain at rest or during exercise at the later assessment. However, the abstract does not give the corresponding massage results or a numerical between-group effect. It therefore leaves the size and certainty of any advantage over massage unclear, despite the authors’ favorable interpretation of cold-water immersion.
The authors identify the small sample and lack of blinding as limitations. The abstract also omits intervention protocols, group-specific participant counts, and comparative estimates needed to judge how the recovery approaches differed.
What was tested
Participants completed the Murph workout before random assignment to massage or cold-water immersion. Researchers used pain questionnaires alongside pressure-based pain assessment and thermographic imaging, but the abstract mainly summarizes reported pain rather than comparative results across these measures.
Pain and recovery are different questions
The absence of reported pain at an assessment addresses soreness. The abstract does not supply outcome data establishing restored muscle function, a safer return to training, or fewer injuries, even though its introduction discusses those recovery goals.
The original publication
Effectiveness of cold-water immersion vs. massage in reducing delayed-onset muscle soreness and enhancing recovery following CrossFit® Murph Workout: Randomized rial.
Pereira GS, Paulino GE, de Almeida THMF et al.
PLoS One · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 40802667
- Record checked
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