J Therm Biol. 2025 Nov 14;134:104333. doi: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2025.104333. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cold-water immersion (CWI) between consecutive bouts of simulated rugby seven’s matches on performance, physiology and perception. Using a randomised crossover counterbalanced design, 10 male recreational team-sport athletes completed two trials involving two 14 min simulated self-paced intermittent-sprint protocol (ISP) bouts with a 45 min recovery between each bout including a 15 min recovery intervention. Participants completed resting measures, 15 m sprints and vertical jumps (VJ) followed by the first ISP (ISP1) in a hot environment. After ISP1 participants were either seated in an ice-bath (CWI; 11.6 ± 1.8 °C) (CWI) or sat in a thermo-neutral environment (CONT) for 15 min. Measures of heart rate (HR), core temperature (Tcore), skin temperature (Tskin), thermal sensation (TS) and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded during ISP1, ISP2 and the recovery period. Statistical significance was set at P = 0.05. Vertical jump height was lower and 15 m sprint times slower during ISP2, following CWI (P = 0.01-0.02). While jogging self-paced efforts from ISP1 to ISP2 were maintained, sprint times were slower, and bounding distance was increased in CWI compared to CONT. Tskin was reduced during recovery for CWI (P = 0.001). Tcore, RPE, and TS were lower throughout ISP2 for CWI (P = 0.001-0.04). Therefore, CWI as a recovery modality between successive bouts of simulated rugby sevens in the heat may negatively affect initial high intensity performance compared to passive recovery yet may attenuate thermoregulatory stress through a pre-cooling effect still present 30 min after CWI, leading to higher intensity during the jogging efforts.
PMID:41252773 | DOI:10.1016/j.jtherbio.2025.104333
