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Interleukin-6 responses to water immersion therapy after acute exercise heat stress: a pilot investigation

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 16:16 authored by Lee, EC, Greig WatsonGreig Watson, Casa, D, Armstrong, LE, Kraemer, W, Vingren, JL, Spiering, BA, Maresh, CM
CONTEXT: Cold-water immersion is the criterion standard for treatment of exertional heat illness. Cryotherapy and water immersion also have been explored as ergogenic or recovery aids. The kinetics of inflammatory markers, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), during cold-waterimmersion have not been characterized. OBJECTIVE: To characterize serum IL-6 responses to water immersion at 2 temperatures and, therefore, to initiate further research into the multidimensional benefits of immersion and the evidence-based selection of specific, optimal immersion conditions by athletic trainers. DESIGN: Controlled laboratory study. SETTING: Human performance laboratory Patients or Other Participants: Eight college-aged men (age = 22 ± 3 years, height = 1.76 ± 0.08 m, mass = 77.14 ± 9.77 kg, body fat = 10% ± 3%, and maximal oxygen consumption = 50.48 ± 4.75 mL·kg(-1) min(-1)). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants were assigned randomly to receive either cold (11.70°C ± 2.02°C, n = 4) or warm (23.50°C ± 1.00°C, n = 4) water-bath conditions after exercise in the heat (temperature = 37°C, relative humidity = 52%) for 90 minutes or until volitional cessation. RESULTS: Whole-body cooling rates were greater in the cold water-bath condition for the first 6 minutes of water immersion, but during the 90-minute, postexercise recovery, participants in the warm and cold water-bath conditions experienced similar overall whole-body cooling. Heart rate responses were similar for both groups. Participants in the cold water-bath condition experienced an overall slight increase (30.54% ± 77.37%) in IL-6 concentration, and participants in the warm water-bath condition experienced an overall decrease (-69.76% ± 15.23%). CONCLUSIONS: We have provided seed evidence that cold-water immersion is related to subtle IL-6 increases from postexercise values and that warmer water-bath temperatures might dampen this increase. Further research will elucidate any anti-inflammatory benefit associated with water-immersion treatment and possible multidimensional uses of cooling therapies.

History

Publication title

Journal of Athletic Training

Volume

47

Issue

6

Pagination

655-663

ISSN

1062-6050

Department/School

School of Health Sciences

Publisher

Natl Athletic Trainers Assoc Inc

Place of publication

2952 Stemmons Freeway, Dallas, USA, Tx, 75247

Rights statement

Copyright 2012 National Athletic Trainers' Association, Inc.

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Evaluation of health and support services not elsewhere classified

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