The Impact of Cold Water Immersion Duration on Heart Rate and Blood Pressure

Abstract

One of the most commonly used recovery methods among athletes is Cold Water Immersion (CWI). The duration of immersion affects the body’s response. However, the effects of varying CWI durations on heart rate and blood pressure—key indicators of recovery—have not been extensively addressed in previous studies. This study aims to determine the effect of CWI duration on heart rate and blood pressure following soccer training. The method used was a true experimental pretest-posttest control group design. The study subjects were soccer players from the “Diklat Diponegoro Muda” team aged 15–18 years. The players were divided into three groups using simple random sampling: 5-minute CWI (n = 11), 10-minute CWI (n = 11), and a control group (n = 15). The primary data collected were systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate. Systolic blood pressure showed no significant differences. Diastolic blood pressure and heart rate showed significant differences, with the 10-minute CWI group exhibiting the most significant effects. CWI duration had a significant effect on diastolic blood pressure and heart rate, but not on systolic blood pressure. A 10-minute CWI had a greater effect than a 5-minute CWI and the control group. Soccer players can perform a 10-minute CWI at a temperature of 15–20°C to achieve significant results.