Contrast TherapyEvidence & Dosage
Alternating heat and cold — a vascular workout.
Evidence at a glance
- Total studies
- 140
- With abstract
- 50
- Meta / Systematic / RCT
- 41
- Highly cited
- 50
- Publication years
- 1988–2026
Contrast Therapy 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 Contrast Therapy
Ranked by influential-citation count and publication year.
An Evidence-Based Approach for Choosing Post-exercise Recovery Techniques to Reduce Markers of Muscle Damage, Soreness, Fatigue, and Inflammation: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.
Front Physiol2018n=99other169 influential citationsIntroduction: The aim of the present work was to perform a meta-analysis evaluating the impact of recovery techniques on delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), perceived fatigue, muscle damage, and inflammatory markers after physical…
Effectiveness of post-match recovery strategies in rugby players.
Br J Sports Med2006RCT83 influential citations<h4>Objectives</h4>To examine the effectiveness of four interventions on the rate and magnitude of muscle damage recovery, as measured by creatine kinase (CK).<h4>Methods</h4>23 elite male rugby players were monitored transdermally before,…
Effect of hydrotherapy on the signs and symptoms of delayed onset muscle soreness.
Eur J Appl Physiol2008n=38RCT79 influential citationsThis study independently examined the effects of three hydrotherapy interventions on the physiological and functional symptoms of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Strength trained males (n = 38) completed two experimental trials…
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.
Acute effects of cold, heat and contrast pressure therapy on forearm muscles regeneration in combat sports athletes: a randomized clinical trial.
Sci Rep2024n=40RCT62 influential citationsDue to the specific loads that occur in combat sports athletes' forearm muscles, we decided to compare the immediate effect of monotherapy with the use of compressive heat (HT), cold (CT), and alternating therapy (HCT) in terms of…
Effect of water immersion methods on post-exercise recovery from simulated team sport exercise.
J Sci Med Sport2009n=11RCT58 influential citationsThis study aimed to compare the efficacy of hot/cold contrast water immersion (CWI), cold-water immersion (COLD) and no recovery treatment (control) as post-exercise recovery methods following exhaustive simulated team sports exercise.…
Hydrotherapy versus conventional land-based exercise for the management of patients with osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized clinical trial.
Physical therapy200854 influential citations<h4>Background and purpose</h4>This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of hydrotherapy in subjects with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee compared with subjects with OA of the knee who performed land-based…
Effect of hydrotherapy on recovery from fatigue.
Int J Sports Med2008n=12Clinical Trial53 influential citationsThe present study investigated the effects of three hydrotherapy interventions on next day performance recovery following strenuous training. Twelve cyclists completed four experimental trials differing only in 14-min recovery…
Short term effects of various water immersions on recovery from exhaustive intermittent exercise.
Eur J Appl Physiol2011RCT49 influential citationsIn order to investigate the effectiveness of different techniques of water immersion recovery on maximal strength, power and the post-exercise inflammatory response in elite athletes, 41 highly trained (Football, Rugby, Volleyball) male…
Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Clinical Outcomes of Laser Therapy, Ultrasound Therapy, and Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
The Journal of foot and ankle surgery : official publication of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons2017n=6049 influential citationsWe determined and compared the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT), therapeutic ultrasound (US) therapy, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We performed a randomized,…
Frequently asked
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