Cold PlungeEvidence & Dosage
3–15 min in <15°C — anti-inflammatory, but can blunt hypertrophy.
Evidence at a glance
- Total studies
- 452
- With abstract
- 48
- Meta / Systematic / RCT
- 136
- Highly cited
- 50
- Publication years
- 1987–2026
Cold Plunge in the context of Recovery
This topic is part of our "Recovery" world. There you'll find methodology, evidence and the highest-impact levers — plus the order in which they sensibly build on each other.
Go to RecoveryTop studies on Cold Plunge
Ranked by influential-citation count and publication year.
Prediction of good neurological outcome in comatose survivors of cardiac arrest: a systematic review.
Intensive Care Med2022n=37Systematic Review154 influential citations<h4>Purpose</h4>To assess the ability of clinical examination, blood biomarkers, electrophysiology or neuroimaging assessed within 7 days from return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) to predict good neurological outcome, defined as no,…
Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: Pathogenesis and Promising Therapies.
Mol Neurobiol2025Systematic Review151 influential citationsHypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a brain lesion caused by inadequate blood supply and oxygen deprivation, often occurring in neonates. It has emerged as a grave complication of neonatal asphyxia, leading to chronic neurological…
Neurologic Prognostication After Cardiac Arrest Using Brain Biomarkers: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
JAMA Neurol2022n=10,567Meta-Analysis87 influential citations<h4>Importance</h4>Brain injury biomarkers released into circulation from the injured neurovascular unit are important prognostic tools in patients with cardiac arrest who develop hypoxic ischemic brain injury (HIBI) after return of…
Effects of Cold-Water Immersion Compared with Other Recovery Modalities on Athletic Performance Following Acute Strenuous Exercise in Physically Active Participants: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression.
Sports Med2023n=28meta77 influential citationsBACKGROUND: Studies investigating the effects of common recovery modalities following acute strenuous exercise have reported mixed results. OBJECTIVES: This systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression compared the effects of…
Finding: Cold-water immersion was superior to other recovery methods for recovering from muscle soreness.
Established focal therapy-HIFU, IRE, or cryotherapy-where are we now?-a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis2025n=49Meta-Analysis76 influential citations<h4>Introduction</h4>Focal Therapy (FT) is a treatment option for the treatment of limited volume clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa). We aim to systematically review outcomes of established FT modalities to assess the…
Cryotherapy following total knee replacement.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev2023n=183systematic69 influential citationsBACKGROUND: Total knee replacement (TKR) is a common intervention for people with end-stage symptomatic knee osteoarthritis, resulting in significant improvements in pain, function and quality of life within three to six months. It is,…
Comparison of cooling methods to induce and maintain normo- and hypothermia in intensive care unit patients: a prospective intervention study.
Critical care (London, England)2007n=5067 influential citations<h4>Background</h4>Temperature management is used with increased frequency as a tool to mitigate neurological injury. Although frequently used, little is known about the optimal cooling methods for inducing and maintaining controlled…
Effects of cold water immersion after exercise on fatigue recovery and exercise performance--meta analysis.
Front Physiol2023n=419systematic63 influential citationsCold water immersion (CWI) is very popular as a method reducing post-exercise muscle stiffness, eliminating fatigue, decreasing exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD), and recovering sports performance. However, there are conflicting…
The effects of cold exposure (cold water immersion, whole- and partial- body cryostimulation) on cardiovascular and cardiac autonomic control responses in healthy individuals: A systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression.
J Therm Biol2024n=27meta62 influential citationsBACKGROUND: Cryostimulation and cold-water immersion (CWI) have recently gained widespread attention due to their association with changes in cardiovascular and cardiac autonomic control responses. Therefore, the aim of the present…
Clinical outcomes of mild versus moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest with antegrade cerebral perfusion in adult aortic arch surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Perfusion2024n=305Meta-Analysis57 influential citations<h4>Objectives</h4>In adult aortic arch surgery, moderate hypothermic circulatory arrest (HCA) with selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (SACP) (MoHACP) is widely used, but the application of mild HCA with SACP (MiHACP) is still…
Frequently asked
What dosage was studied?
Which population does the evidence apply to?
Are there safety considerations for Cold Plunge?
Related articles
Cold Plunge After Strength Training: when it helps and when it slows you down
Cold Plunge directly after strength training can blunt muscle gain. When ice baths make sense, which studies show this, and how to time them correctly.
Cold Plunge & Ice Bathing 2026: What Is Actually Proven About Cold Immersion
Cold Plunge and ice bathing: Which effects on brown fat, mood, and recovery are actually supported in 2026, how large they are, and where the data are thin.
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