HealthyNCT04902924
Cold and Warm Water for Performance Recovery
A study testing repeated cold water therapy and repeated warm water therapy in people with Healthy, run by University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland at 1 site in Switzerland.
Trial summary
The overall aim of this study is, to evaluate the effectiveness of repeated cold- and warm water immersion on performance recovery after muscle damage. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 35 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Healthy
- What is being tested?
- repeated cold water therapy and repeated warm water therapy
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 30 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSwitzerland
- Study dates
- 1 Oct 2021to 1 May 2022
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 35 years
- Women only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Healthy participants
- No surgeries
- No previous injuries
- Anticonceptiva allowed
Who cannot join
- Acute injuries or current pain situations
- Cryophobia
- Fear
- Pregnancy
- Raynaud syndrome
- Medication intake
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Switzerland1 site
University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
Landquart, Kanton Graubünden, 7302
About this study
Official title: A Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Repeated Cold- and Warm Water Immersion on Performance Recovery
The overall aim of this study is, to evaluate the effectiveness of repeated cold- and warm water immersion on performance recovery after muscle damage.
Read the detailed description
Participants perform a muscle-damage protocol, which comprises 5x20 drop jumps. After the exercise protocol is finished, the participants will undergo one of three recovery interventions. Cold-water immersion, Warm-water immersion or the control-intervention. During the exercise protocol and the recovery intervention following parameters will be assessed: Blood oxygenation, Muscle oxygenation, heart-rate, skin temperature and core temperature.
Then, performance recovery will be assessed during the following 72 hrs (in a 24 hrs interval).
At each time-point, following measurements will be conducted: vertical-jump performance, maximum voluntary isometric contraction of the m.quadriceps femoris muscle, muscle swelling and delayed-onset of muscle soreness.
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Being tested
- repeated cold water therapy, repeated warm water therapy, control
- Keywords
- cold water immersion, warm water immersion, muscle damage, recovery
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
repeated cold water therapyBehavioural
This information can be found the description of the experimental arm.
repeated warm water therapyBehavioural
This information can be found the description of the experimental arm.
controlOther
This information can be found the description of the experimental arm.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Repeated cold-water immersion | Experimental | In this arm, the participants undergo repeated cold water immersion at 10°C for 2 x 5 min. Between the immersion, a break will be conducted 2.5 min. Participants will be immersed up to the iliac crest Receives: Behavioral: repeated cold water therapy |
| Repeated warm-water immersion | Active comparator | In this arm, the participants undergo repeated warm water immersion at 40°C for 2 x 5 min. Between the immersion, a break will be conducted 2.5 min. Participants will be immersed up to the iliac crestParticipants will be immersed up to the iliac crest. Receives: Behavioral: repeated warm water therapy |
| Control | Other | In this arm, the participants undergo the control intervention which comprises to remain seated for 12.5 min. The participants, that will perform the muscle damaging protocol under hypoxia will also be treated with the control condition. Receives: Other: control |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction (N)
maximun voluntary isometric contraction of the knee extensor muscle will be assessed.
Measured: baseline to 72 hours
Delayed Onset of Muscle Soreness (DOMS)
delayed onset of muscle soreness will be measured using a 0-10 scale, where 0 indicated no soreness and 10 indicates maximum soreness of the knee extensor muscles
Measured: baseline to 72 hours
Muscle Swelling
swelling of the knee extensor muscle will be performed using a ultrasound device.
Measured: baseline to 72 hours
Creatine-kinase (U/l)
using a blood sample (6 ml), creatine-kinase will be assessed
Measured: baseline to 72 hours
Muscle Blood Oxygenation
Muscle oxygenation saturation (SmO2) of the knee extensor muscle will be measured using near-infrared spectroscopy device. Oxygenated haemoglobin (oxyHb), deoxygenated haemoglobin (deoxyHb) and total haemoglobin (TotHb) were assessed in arbitrary units and SmO2 was calculated as oxyHb/TotHb x 100 value (%)
Measured: through recovery intervention up to 30 minutes
Skin Temperature (°C)
Skin temperature will be measured using a near infrared thermography camera
Measured: through recovery intervention up to 30 minutes
Core Temperature (°C)
core temperature will be measured using temperature pill that will provide real time values from the gastrointestinal region
Measured: through recovery intervention up to 30 minutes
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 May 2021
- Study start1 Oct 2021
- Primary completion30 Apr 2022
- Study completion1 May 2022
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for HealthyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- This study is a randomized controlled trial
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Ron Clijsen, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
- Investigators
- Ron Clijsen, PhD, Principal investigator, University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04902924
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2021-00546
- Status last verified
- Sep 2025
- First submitted
- 29 Apr 2021
- Last updated
- 7 Oct 2025
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Wellauer V, Clijsen R, Bianchi G, Riggi E, Hohenauer E. No acceleration of recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage after cold or hot water immersion in women: A randomised controlled trial. PLoS One. 2025 May 7;20(5):e0322416. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0322416. eCollection 2025.
PubMed 40333546Hohenauer E, Bianchi G, Wellauer V, Taube W, Clijsen R. Acute physiological responses and muscle recovery in females: a randomised controlled trial of muscle damaging exercise in hypoxia. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2024 Mar 22;16(1):70. doi: 10.1186/s13102-024-00861-1.
PubMed 38520001
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 Oct 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Repeated Cold- and Warm Water Immersion on Performance Recovery
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04902924
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2021-00546
- Conditions
- Healthy
- Keywords
- cold water immersion, warm water immersion, muscle damage, recovery
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 30 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern SwitzerlandUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Oct 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Apr 2022 (actual)
- Study completion
- 1 May 2022 (actual)
- First posted
- 26 May 2021 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 24 Sep 2025
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The overall aim of this study is, to evaluate the effectiveness of repeated cold- and warm water immersion on performance recovery after muscle damage.
Detailed description
Participants perform a muscle-damage protocol, which comprises 5x20 drop jumps. After the exercise protocol is finished, the participants will undergo one of three recovery interventions. Cold-water immersion, Warm-water immersion or the control-intervention. During the exercise protocol and the recovery intervention following parameters will be assessed: Blood oxygenation, Muscle oxygenation, heart-rate, skin temperature and core temperature.
Then, performance recovery will be assessed during the following 72 hrs (in a 24 hrs interval).
At each time-point, following measurements will be conducted: vertical-jump performance, maximum voluntary isometric contraction of the m.quadriceps femoris muscle, muscle swelling and delayed-onset of muscle soreness.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 3
- Model description
- This study is a randomized controlled trial
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Repeated cold-water immersion | Experimental | Behavioral: repeated cold water therapyIn this arm, the participants undergo repeated cold water immersion at 10°C for 2 x 5 min. Between the immersion, a break will be conducted 2.5 min. Participants will be immersed up to the iliac crest |
| Repeated warm-water immersion | Active comparator | Behavioral: repeated warm water therapyIn this arm, the participants undergo repeated warm water immersion at 40°C for 2 x 5 min. Between the immersion, a break will be conducted 2.5 min. Participants will be immersed up to the iliac crestParticipants will be immersed up to the iliac crest. |
| Control | Other | Other: controlIn this arm, the participants undergo the control intervention which comprises to remain seated for 12.5 min. The participants, that will perform the muscle damaging protocol under hypoxia will also be treated with the control condition. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 35 years
- Sex
- Female only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Healthy participants
- No surgeries
- No previous injuries
- Anticonceptiva allowed
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Acute injuries or current pain situations
- Cryophobia
- Fear
- Pregnancy
- Raynaud syndrome
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| repeated cold water therapyThis information can be found the description of the experimental arm. | Behavioural | Repeated cold-water immersion |
| repeated warm water therapyThis information can be found the description of the experimental arm. | Behavioural | Repeated warm-water immersion |
| controlThis information can be found the description of the experimental arm. | Other | Control |
Primary outcome
Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction (N)
Time frame: baseline to 72 hours
maximun voluntary isometric contraction of the knee extensor muscle will be assessed.
Delayed Onset of Muscle Soreness (DOMS)
Time frame: baseline to 72 hours
delayed onset of muscle soreness will be measured using a 0-10 scale, where 0 indicated no soreness and 10 indicates maximum soreness of the knee extensor muscles
Muscle Swelling
Time frame: baseline to 72 hours
swelling of the knee extensor muscle will be performed using a ultrasound device.
Creatine-kinase (U/l)
Time frame: baseline to 72 hours
using a blood sample (6 ml), creatine-kinase will be assessed
Muscle Blood Oxygenation
Time frame: through recovery intervention up to 30 minutes
Muscle oxygenation saturation (SmO2) of the knee extensor muscle will be measured using near-infrared spectroscopy device. Oxygenated haemoglobin (oxyHb), deoxygenated haemoglobin (deoxyHb) and total haemoglobin (TotHb) were assessed in arbitrary units and SmO2 was calculated as oxyHb/TotHb x 100 value (%)
Skin Temperature (°C)
Time frame: through recovery intervention up to 30 minutes
Skin temperature will be measured using a near infrared thermography camera
Core Temperature (°C)
Time frame: through recovery intervention up to 30 minutes
core temperature will be measured using temperature pill that will provide real time values from the gastrointestinal region
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 7 Oct 2025.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Results publication: PubMed 40333546Wellauer V, Clijsen R, Bianchi G, Riggi E, Hohenauer E. No acceleration of recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage after cold or hot water immersion in women: A randomised controlled trial. PLoS One. 2025 May 7;20(5):e0322416. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0322416. eCollection 2025.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 38520001Hohenauer E, Bianchi G, Wellauer V, Taube W, Clijsen R. Acute physiological responses and muscle recovery in females: a randomised controlled trial of muscle damaging exercise in hypoxia. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2024 Mar 22;16(1):70. doi: 10.1186/s13102-024-00861-1.
- Full-text of the publicationLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Ron Clijsen, PhD principal investigator
University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing repeated cold water therapy and repeated warm water therapy in people with Healthy, run by University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland at 1 site in Switzerland.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Oct 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Switzerland. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 24 Sep 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Maximum Voluntary Isometric Contraction (N) (time frame: baseline to 72 hours). The study lists 7 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04902924, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Oct 2025.