Also known as: cold shower, cold plunge, deliberate cold exposure
Latest evidence update: 2026-03-01
Brief immersion in cold water (11°C or below) for dopamine release, stress resilience, and metabolic activation.
ProtocolEngine provides general health information based on published research. This is not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or health protocol.
Whole-body cryotherapy reduces serum IL-1β levels compared to control in humans.
Cold-water immersion applied to trained limbs only attenuates muscular strength gains more than whole-body CWI.
Cold water immersion improved perceived recovery at 72 hours post-immersion.
Cold-water immersion significantly reduced creatine kinase (CK) levels, a marker of muscle damage, in trained soccer players after match play.
Cold water immersion significantly reduces blood lactate concentration (BLC) following high-intensity exercise compared to no recovery.