Cold recovery methods differed by soreness and jump outcomes
A trial review favored cold-water immersion for early soreness relief, while body cryotherapy had a fragile advantage for jump recovery. Later comparisons were inconclusive.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review found that cold-water immersion relieved muscle soreness more than body cryotherapy early after strenuous exercise. Body cryotherapy showed a small, uncertain advantage for jump performance at that stage. Later, neither outcome showed a statistically clear difference between methods. This pattern does not identify a single recovery method as best for every outcome.
Jump-performance results varied substantially across studies. The abstract does not identify the soreness scale or report absolute jump changes, and its comparisons cannot establish whether either method outperforms no recovery intervention.
What researchers found
Delayed-onset muscle soreness
Compared with body cryotherapy within 24 hours after exercise; at 48 hours, the difference was not statistically significant.
Separate recovery outcomes
Researchers compared recovery after strenuous exercise using soreness ratings and jump tests. These endpoints capture different experiences, so feeling less sore and recovering jump performance should be evaluated separately.
Uncertainty remains
The apparent early jump advantage for body cryotherapy was statistically fragile and came from inconsistent study results. The later nonsignificant comparisons leave uncertainty; they do not prove the methods are equally effective.
The original publication
Effects of cold water immersion vs body cryotherapy on delayed onset muscle soreness and jump performance following acute strenuous exercise in physically active participants: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Liu S, Ma Y
Medicine (Baltimore) · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41578562
- Record checked
AI-assisted research and writing. This explains one selected publication; it is not a complete review of everything known. Our approach.
One more question, understood.
Keep track of the research you’ve explored.