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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2026

Non-invasive Assessments of Subjective and Objective Recovery Characteristics Following an Exhaustive Jump Protocol

Non-invasive Assessments of Subjective and Objective Recovery Characteristics Following an Exhaustive Jump Protocol

Published on: June 8, 2017

Post-exercise cold water immersion: effect on core temperature and melatonin responses.

Elisa Robey¹, Brian Dawson, Shona Halson

¹School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia. 10010789@student.uwa.edu.au

European Journal of Applied Physiology

|June 19, 2012

Summary

Cold water immersion (CWI) and warm water immersion (WWI) post-exercise lower core body temperature. CWI resulted in a significantly greater decrease in core temperature compared to WWI, while melatonin levels remained unaffected by either immersion type.

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Field-Based Thermal Physiology Assay: Cold Shock Recovery under Ambient Conditions

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Last Updated: May 21, 2026

Non-invasive Assessments of Subjective and Objective Recovery Characteristics Following an Exhaustive Jump Protocol

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Published on: June 8, 2017

Field-Based Thermal Physiology Assay: Cold Shock Recovery under Ambient Conditions

Field-Based Thermal Physiology Assay: Cold Shock Recovery under Ambient Conditions

Published on: March 9, 2021

Area of Science:

Exercise Physiology
Thermoregulation
Sports Science

Background:

Post-exercise recovery strategies aim to optimize physiological restoration.
Water immersion is a common recovery method, with varying temperatures potentially eliciting different effects.
Understanding the impact of cold water immersion (CWI) versus warm water immersion (WWI) on core temperature and hormonal responses is crucial for athletes.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effects of post-exercise CWI and WWI on core body temperature and melatonin levels in male cyclists.
To compare the magnitude of core temperature reduction between CWI and WWI.
To assess the influence of water immersion on evening melatonin secretion following exercise.

Main Methods:

Ten male cyclists performed two evening cycling trials.
Trials were followed by 15-minute immersion in either cold (14°C) or warm (34°C) water.
Core (rectal) temperature and salivary melatonin were monitored for 90 minutes post-immersion.

Main Results:

Both CWI and WWI lowered core temperature below pre-exercise levels at 60 and 90 minutes post-immersion.
Core temperature was significantly lower following CWI compared to WWI at 30 and 90 minutes post-immersion.
Salivary melatonin levels increased significantly from post-exercise to 90 minutes post-immersion, irrespective of water temperature. Heart rate was lower after CWI.

Conclusions:

Post-exercise water immersion, both cold and warm, effectively reduces core body temperature below baseline for at least 90 minutes.
Cold water immersion provides a greater reduction in core body temperature compared to warm water immersion.
Evening exercise followed by water immersion does not appear to alter the natural evening rise in melatonin levels.