Effects of cold-water immersion on health and wellbeing: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Cain T, Brinsley J, Bennett H, Nelson M, Maher C, Singh B
PloS one · 18 citas
Cómo se estudió
- Diseño
- Metaanálisis (indexado por PubMed)
- Estudiado en
- Personas
- Resultado principal
- Marcadores de salud y funcionamiento
Quién lo pagó
- Financiación
- Financiación independiente
- Gobierno
- Medical Research Future Fund
- Subvenciones
- Medical Research Future Fund (GNT1193862)
Según 1 financiador declarado y la declaración de financiación del texto completo.
Publicación
- Publicado
- 2025-01-29 · PLoS One · vol. 20 · número 1 · pág. e0317615
- Editorial
- Public Library of Science
- Citado
- 34 citas · más que el 100% de estudios similares · 10.3× el promedio de su campo
- Impacto
- Entre el 10 % más citado de su campo
- Referencias
- 48 trabajos
- Acceso
- Acceso abierto (revista) · CC-BY
- Áreas de investigación
- Therapeutic Uses of Natural Elements · Exercise and Physiological Responses · Thermoregulation and physiological responses
- Palabras clave
- Meta-analysis, Immersion (mathematics), MEDLINE, Medicine, Biology, Mathematics, Internal medicine
- MeSH
- humans, water, immersion, sleep, adult, randomized controlled trials as topic, cold temperature
6 autores
- Tara Cain🇦🇺 · autor de correspondenciaUniversity of South Australia
- Jacinta Brinsley🇦🇺University of South Australia
- Hunter Bennett🇦🇺University of South Australia
- Maximillian J. Nelson🇦🇺University of South Australia
- Carol Ann Maher🇦🇺University of South Australia
- B. M. Singh🇦🇺University of South Australia
Resumen
El texto original del estudio, en el idioma en que se publicó.
Background
Cold-water immersion (CWI) has gained popularity as a health and wellbeing intervention among the general population.
Objective
This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the psychological, cognitive, and physiological effects of CWI in healthy adults.
Methods
Electronic databases were searched for randomized trials involving healthy adults aged ≥ 18 years undergoing acute or long-term CWI exposure via cold shower, ice bath, or plunge with water temperature ≤15°C for at least 30 seconds. Outcomes of interest were sleep, stress, fatigue, energy, skin health, immunity, inflammation, mental wellbeing, depression, anxiety, mood, concentration, and alertness or focus. Meta-analyses were conducted using RevMan software (version 5.4), applying random effects models to calculate standardized mean differences (SMD) between pre- and post-CWI exposure outcomes. Risk of bias was assessed using the PEDro scale.
Results
Eleven studies were included, comprising 3177 total participants and a mean PEDro score of 6.4 (n = 7 moderate quality, n = 4 high quality). CWI interventions were performed in baths (n = 10) or showers (n = 1) at temperatures ranging from 7°C to 15°C and durations ranging from 30 seconds to 2 hours. The meta-analysis revealed significant increases in inflammation immediately (SMD: 1.03, [95% CI: 0.37, 1.68], p 0.05), 1 hour (SMD: -0.29 [95% CI: -0.66, 0.08], p > 0.05), 24 hours (SMD: -0.06 [95% CI: -0.50, 0.38], p > 0.05), or 48 hours (SMD: 0.09 [95% CI: -0.28, 0.46], p > 0.05) post-exposure. While meta-analysis showed no significant effects on immune function immediately (SMD: -0.16 [95% CI: -0.82, 0.51], p > 0.05) or 1 hour (SMD: -0.18 [95% CI: -1.09, 0.74], p > 0.05) post-CWI, narrative synthesis suggested longer-term benefits, including a 29% reduction in sickness absence among participants who took cold showers. Improvements were also observed in sleep quality and quality of life, but not mood.
Conclusions
This systematic review suggests that CWI delivers time-dependent effects on inflammation, stress, immunity, sleep quality, and quality of life, offering potential practical applications for health practitioners considering CWI for stress management and wellbeing support. However, the current evidence base is constrained by few RCTs, small sample sizes, and a lack of diversity in study populations. Future high-quality RCTs are needed to examine the long-term effects of CWI, its impact on diverse health outcomes, and optimal CWI protocols. PROSPERO (ID: CRD42024500591).
Resumen vía Europe PMC. Los derechos de autor siguen siendo de los autores o la editorial (CC BY).
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