Comparative Effectiveness of Cold and Warm Water Immersion in Mitigating Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness: a Multi-Arm Randomized Controlled Trial

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating physical strategies to reduce Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) in healthy, physically active males aged 18 to 25 years. DOMS is a common condition following intense or new physical activity, causing pain, inflammation, and reduced muscle function, peaking within 24 to 72 hours after exercise. The study uses a randomized controlled trial design to compare cold water immersion, warm water immersion, and a control treatment to provide clearer evidence on effective recovery methods. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: cold water immersion, where they submerge their lower limbs in 10-12°C water for 15 minutes; warm water immersion, with lower limbs immersed in 40°C water for 15 minutes; or simulated laser therapy as a control, where a device mimics treatment without active laser output. Each treatment is given one hour after exercise, then repeated at 24 and 48 hours. The exercise protocol involves drop jumps to induce muscle soreness. During the study, participants undergo baseline measurements including body composition, muscle stiffness, range of motion, pain levels, and blood tests. Follow-up assessments and blood samples are collected before each intervention and at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours post-exercise. The main outcome is the change in muscle soreness measured by a pain scale up to 72 hours post-exercise. Additional measures include muscle strength, biochemical markers of muscle damage, tissue elasticity, and inflammation. The study is conducted over several weeks with monitoring to assess recovery progress.

Cold Vs Warm Water Immersion for DOMS Recovery