INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS)  
ISSN No. 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS |Volume IX Issue XXVI November 2025 | Special Issue on Education  
Comparison between Cold Water Immersion and Active Recovery on  
Perceived Pain Relieve among Male Football Players  
Mohamed Syafik Mohamed Salleh, Nursyaidatul Hafiza Madzlan  
University TechnologyMara, Malaysia  
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.903SEDU0733  
Received: 27 November 2025; Accepted: 04 December 2025; Published: 12 December 2025  
ABSTRACT  
The purpose this study was to investigate the comparison between Cold Water Immersion (CWI) and Active  
Recovery (AR) on perceived pain relieve after performing High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) among male  
football players. The study used a quasi-experimental method as its research design. A random sample of 36  
footballers from a public university age ranging from 18 to 23 years old was selected for the study. They were  
assigned to two groups, namely CWI (n=18) and AR (n=18). All participants performed ―Tabata Training for  
20 minutes before undergo recovery intervention. Recovery intervention using CWI was conducted for 10  
minutes with temperature of 15°C, while AR was conducted for 10 minutes by cycling on cycle ergometer  
with speed of 60 RPM, load 50w with moderate intensity of 50%-60%. Both recovery interventions were  
performed immediately, after 24 hours and 48 hours. Visual Analog Scale was used to measure perceived pain  
relieve on 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours. Repeated Measure One-way ANOVA was utilized for data  
analysis. ANOVA result revealed there was no significant difference between CWI and AR after 24 hours of  
recovery [F(1,34) = 0.507; p>0.05]. However, there was a significant difference on perceived pain relieve  
between CWI and AR during 48 hours [F(1,34) = 92.53; p<0.05] and 72 hours [F(1,34) = 326.96; p<0.05]. In  
addition, the finding also showed that there was a significant interaction among CWI during 24 hours, 48 hours  
and 72 hours [F(2,34)= 2332.60; p<0.05]. Besides, there was a significant interaction among AR during 24  
hours, 48 hours and 72 hours [F(2,34)=1051.91; p<0.05]. In conclusion, the data revealed that there was a  
significant effect for perceived pain relieve after performing HIIT for both interventions. The implication of  
the study highlights that both methods of recovery process could be used by football players for pain relieve  
after training and competition.  
Keywords: Cold Water Immersion (CWI), Active Recovery, High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), Delay  
Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS), Perceived Pain Relieve.  
INTRODUCTION  
In recent year, Tabata Training become common people choose as an exercise program that introduce by  
Japanese scientist known as Izumi Tabata [1]. Tabata Training also known as a High Intensity Interval  
Training (HIIT) program that involved short duration of exercise. By using the interval training a higher  
metabolic demand will be placed in our body in a shorter period [2]. The demand of an individual exercise and  
rest interval duration during training mimics that of to a sport activity [3]. According to [4], stated that  
different level intensity of exercise may lead to several types of chances for example musculoskeletal fatigue,  
nervous and metabolic systems. According to [5] it was also reported that Delay Onset Muscle Soreness  
(DOMS) will happens after some microscopic tears in area of muscle tissues in 48 hours after performing an  
exercise. According to [6], [7], process of recovery was the body restoring physiological aspect and will  
allows athletes to return in sport event with the best performance level. Critical part of recovery it was used to  
minimize the risk of injury and to avoid symptom of overtraining. Athlete that train hard without having  
enough rest may lead to the symptoms such as overtraining, mental burnout and poor performance [8].  
Reduction of heart rate, respiratory rate and ventilation, restoration of energy and ion balance, waste products  
removal of metabolism, decrease level of muscle stress and reduction of the activity of the central nervous  
system it was several indicators that should be measure for degree of recovery [9].  
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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS)  
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In addition, recovery was important because it increases the level regeneration of energy, maintaining  
individual performance, maintaining acid base balance and decrease level of fatigue [10]. The importance of  
recovery was now widely used by the team sports such as cycling event, football, rugby, and track events  
where the qualifying and final events occur in same day. The combination of short period recovery and high  
intensity event has been identified as a key of factor performance [11]. To improve body recovery from  
exercise, there were several methods of recovery strategies has been used for example massage therapy,  
compression garments, stretching, rolling foam, electrical stimulation and water immersion therapy. However,  
there were conflicting evidence about what kind recovery intervention were applied between Cold Water  
Immersion and Active Recovery that may give the best result to coaches, therapists and athletes to recover  
from the high intensity activity.  
Cold Water Immersion (CWI) other type of hydrotherapy was higher recommended method to improve  
recovery process from training and competition for elite athletes. It has been supported by several authors  
from [12], [13], that CWI has a chosen process of recovery that was used to improve recovery process after  
performing the exercise. There were some evidence that shows the positive result from CWI from [9], also  
stated that with CWI, it may restore level of hydrogen ion (H+), decrease level of muscle tension and remove  
the waste products. Furthermore, it also has been supported in the study from [13], stated that effect of CWI  
process to decrease level of DOMS after performing high intensity exercises but it had no effect on eccentric  
exercise.  
In addition to that, other studies by [12], on comparison between groups that used CWI and did not used  
indicated reduction level of Creatine Kinase (CK), myoglobin, and C- reactive protein (CRP) concentration is  
the effects of CWI recovery process on a junior football player. Besides that, according to [14], CWI also  
shows positive result on muscle stiffness that reduces level of an inflammation, force of generation and pain.  
According to [15], revealed that CWI was the effective technique to decrease level of muscle injury (DOMS).  
In addition, recovery with cold water also enhances the process of maintaining body temperature level,  
increase oxygen consumption, muscle spasm and local vasoconstriction [14]. Moreover, water immersion also  
shows a significant result on muscle soreness and the decrease in isometric leg flexion and extension  
performance in 10°C temperature [16]. The result also has been supported by [17], that a 10-minute water  
immersion at 10°C decreases the level of muscle soreness, myoglobin concentration and decrease in knee  
flexor maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) after performing interval shuttle run. To start in an active  
recovery procedure, intensity needs to be kept in moderate ([8], [18]. According to [19], active recovery was  
used for cooling down after training and game in professional football players. Active recovery helps to  
improve sport performance and physiological, sprint interval, maintaining blood flow to active muscle and  
removal of byproduct. According to [20], active recovery allows oxidative pathway to activate muscle work  
and allowing Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) to contribute during exercise in bout. The ability can maintain  
high rate of ATP and blood flow was very important to reduce level of muscle fatigue during exercise in high  
intensity [21].  
According to [22], finding, active recovery has an advantage if compare with a passive recovery during  
conducting Wingate test protocol. Furthermore, others finding shown from [23], by using active recovery also  
help to increase recover of blood lactate, muscle lactate compare with passive recovery. Thus, the result from  
all findings shows that active recovery was more positively compare with passive recovery. Therefore, the  
objective of this study was to determine the comparison between methods of recovery phase which were cold  
water immersion and active recovery on perceive pain relieve afterward performing High Intensity Interval  
Training (HIIT) among UiTM Pahang male football players. This study also will measure which method of  
recovery provide beneficial effect on perceived pain relieve after performing HIIT among UiTM Pahang male  
football players.  
METHODOLOGY  
All participants underwent three sessions of recovery processes which were immediate, 24 hours and 48 hours  
for duration of both recoveries process was 10 minutes. Participants were allocated into two groups. Most  
important, the researchers ensure that full efforts were invested in each session and closer supervision on  
recovery process was given. A brief explanation about the recovery process was explained by the researcher.  
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A question-and-answer session was held to clear up any doubt that participant had about the recovery process  
program. After complete answer session, all participants were distributed an informed consent to each  
participant. In the informed consent, all the detail about participant were stated together and screening  
question to confirm that the participants were in our inclusion criteria. Before the recovery processes were  
given, all participants filled the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PARQ) to ensure all the  
participants were ready to involve in this study and free from any disease or injury. Before undergoing to  
recovery process, all the participants were performed High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) were Tabata  
Training [1]. The Tabata Training was consisting of 20 seconds exercise, 10 seconds rest period that need to  
continue by eight cycles of exercise with total of duration consist of four minutes. The numbers of repetition  
for Tabata Training were as much repetition with maximal effort for 20 seconds exercise duration The Tabata  
Training was performing four rounds for total 20 minutes for all sessions. The Tabata Training from this study  
involving exercise that used body weight and free weight. Movement that applied from this program was  
included eccentric and concentric movement. Moreover, the Tabata Training was performed more focus on  
lower limb movement of exercises that involve several muscles for examples quadriceps, hamstring and  
gluteus maximus. After practicing until proficient at all the exercises, each participant needs to be familiar  
with the exercise before proceeding to perform Tabata Training. The Tabata Training protocol was explained  
in Table 1. Participants completed as much repetition as possible with maximal effort for each exercise in 20  
seconds followed by 10 seconds of rest. There were one minute of rest interval between each session.  
According to Table 1, all participants will perform each exercise was repeated twice in succession at ratio 20  
seconds exercise and 10 seconds rest during four rounds with total four minutes.  
Table I Exercises included in the 20 minutes ‘Tabata Training’  
Round 1  
Squat  
Round 2  
Squat  
Round 3  
Round 4  
Exercise 1  
Exercise 2  
Dumbbell  
Swing  
Dumbbell  
Swing  
Lunges  
Lunges  
Jumping Lunges  
Jumping Lunges  
(Alternate)  
Jump Squat  
Squat with Plate  
(Alternate)  
Jump Squat  
Squat with Plate  
Exercise 3  
Exercise 4  
Burpee  
Burpee  
Squat Overhead Press  
Squat Overhead Press  
Cold Water Immersion  
Cold Water Immersion (CWI) was one of recovery technique that athletes immerse water to the hip level or  
middle of sternum for a period time. The duration for CWI was 10 minutes and temperature at 15°C. These  
protocols were selected based on previous study from [24], that using similar protocol after post exercise on  
cyclist athletes. This protocol that used was 15 minutes duration recovery and level of temperature was 10°C.  
Another study using this protocol was Brophy-William et al., (2011) on well-trained team sport athletes. It  
also was supported by [12], reported that CWI at temperature at range 10°C has significant effect on muscle  
soreness and muscle performance among junior national league footballer. The CWI techniques that  
participants need to enter in a tube tab without any takes out their shirt and pant to avoid skin become ice burn  
and injury. Then, participant need to enter tube tab with standing position with the water levels completely  
reached at sternum level. Next, during immersed in water, participants usually passive during immersion in  
still water. CWI technique was performing within ten minutes duration with 15°C level of cold water. To  
control the level of temperature during immersion thermometer was applied to maintain the level temperature  
of the water during CWI recovery. After completing ten minutes duration of recovery process, participants  
were given a towel to recover their body and extra precaution were given due to avoid any bad things happens.  
The intervention of CWI will perform immediately after exercise of HIIT, 24 hours and 48 hours.  
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Active Recovery  
For second experimental group, the participants were received Active Recovery (AR) technique that  
participants need to perform active movement (cycling) in cycle ergometer. AR was performing cycling on  
cycle ergometer for 10 minutes duration with speed 60 RPM with load 50w with moderate intensity range  
between 50%-60% of maximum heart rate. The intensity was selected was therefore at level 12 - 13 on Borg’s  
6-2- RPE scale. After completed 10 minutes duration of cycling, participants will rest and did not make any  
movement until pain sensation were measured. Participants were instructed not to use other form of recovery  
(massage, roller form, and many more) during the two experimental sessions.  
Outcome Measure  
The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) was used to measure pain intensity which been widely used because it was  
easy to conduct and can be used in a wide variety of setting [25]. The VAS was a continue scale consist of a  
horizontal and vertical line that usually used 10 centimeter (100 mm) in length that required verbal descriptor  
for each symptom [25]. For the pain intensity, the scale commonly used by the range of scale by no pain (0  
mm) from severe pain (100 mm) using the ruler to determine the level of pain intensity among participants  
[26]. The different pain intensity experience by participant will impact on mood of participant, quality of sleep,  
quality of life and physical function. According to Breivik et al. (2006), individual who experience with severe  
level of pain intensity will limit the movement and ability to perform intense physical activity, difficult to walk  
and lifestyle physical activities also affected disturbed movement of daily activity such as difficult to getting  
up and sitting down. To classify the categories of pain scale in the VAS score, it was classified into four  
categories which were no pain (0-4 mm), mild pain (5-44 mm), moderate pain (45-74 mm) and severe pain  
(75-100 mm) [26]. To identify the perceived pain relieve among participants, VAS scale was used for measure  
pain intensity. To quantifying the pain levels among participants, the researcher used the standard protocol for  
stimulus application with palpation technique. Each participant was asked to mark the perceived pain relieve  
on the VAS scale when the researcher applied the pressure to the lower extremities. During the pressure  
assessment, the researcher placed his index and middle finger over the site and applied pressure for three  
seconds [27]. The pressure was hard enough to induce an uncomfortable feeling in the muscle area. The  
palpation movement techniques used by researcher were longitudinal and transverse. It was recommended  
movement of palpation based on previous study by [27], revealed that longitudinal and transverse produce  
greater pain compare with circular. Therefore, the researcher used similar protocol and kept as consistent as  
possible between days and among participants  
RESULT  
Table 2 shown the descriptive data of the participants regarding to age, weight, height, body mass index  
(BMI) and body fat percentage by using frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. There were 36  
male UiTM football players involved in this study and were divided into two groups of recovery process i.e.  
Cold Water Immersion (CWI) (n=18) group and Active Recovery (AR) (n=18) group. Average age of CWI  
group was 20.0 years ± 1.23, while average age of AR group was 20.2 years ± 1.22. Average height of CWI  
group was 1.59 m ± 0.40, while average height of AR group was 1.66 m ± 0.03. Moreover, average weight of  
CWI group was 62.4 kg ± 4.48, while average weight of AR group was 62.5 kg ± 3.29. Furthermore, average  
Body Mass Index (BMI) of CWI group was 21.9 ± 1.37, while average Body Mass Index (BMI) of AR group  
was 22.6 ± 1.00. Average body mass index score of both groups in this study showed in normal range.  
Average Body Fat Percentage of CWI group was 18.5 ± SD 2.57, while average Body Fat Percentage of AR  
group was 17.7 ± SD 3.09.  
Table 2 Demographic Data  
Group /Criteria  
Age (Years)  
Cold Water Immersion  
20.0 ± 1.23  
Active Recovery  
20.2 ± 1.22  
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Weight (kg)  
62.4 ± 4.48  
1.59 ± 0.40  
21.9 ± 1.37  
18.5 ± 2.57  
62.5 ± 3.29  
1.66 ± 0.03  
22.6 ± 1.00  
17.7 ± 3.09  
Height (m)  
BMI (kg.m²)  
Body Fat Percentage  
The researcher used Visual Analog Scale (VAS) to identify the level of pain. Pain intensity can be classified as  
no pain with score range between 0-4 mm, mild pain to score range between 5-44 mm, moderate pain score  
range between 45-74 mm, and severe pain score range between 75-100 mm (Jensen et al., 2003).  
Refer to tables 3 indicated the mean of pain level for 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours on VAS for perceived  
pain relieve between CWI and AR. For VAS score during 24 hours after recovery intervention, mean score for  
CWI was 82.16 mm and mean score AR showed 83.16 mm indicating similar level of pain i.e. under severe  
pain. After 48 hours of intervention, the mean of perceived pain relieve in CWI was 31.83 mm, indicating mild  
pain, while mean score for AR was 50.22 mm indicating moderate. It showed different rating of pain whereas  
CWI group showed better pain relieve i.e. mild pain compared to AR group in moderate pain relieved. After 72  
hours of intervention, the CWI group were in better recovery on perceived pain relieve with the mean score of  
perceived pain relieve of 1.72 mm which was categorized as no pain, while mean score for AR was 19.28 mm  
which was categorized as mild pain.  
Table 3 The Mean of Perceived Pain Level on VAS for 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours on VAS Scale  
between Cold Water Immersion and Active Recovery  
Group (Perceived Pain Relieve)  
Cold Water Immersion  
82.16 (Severe)  
Active Recovery  
83.16 (Severe)  
24  
48  
72  
31.83(Mild Pain)  
1.72 (No Pain)  
50.22 (Moderate)  
19.28 (Mild Pain)  
The one-way repeated measure ANOVA was used to measure the Visual Analog Score (VAS) on perceived  
pain relieve between Cold Water Immersion (CWI) and Active Recovery (AR) groups on 24 hours, 48 hours  
and 72 hours. Finding from this study showed that both recovery methods showed significant difference from  
24 hour, 48 hours and 72 hours for perceived pain relieve on VAS scale (p=0.05). However, to compare  
recovery process between CWI and AR on 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours VAS scale indicated there was no  
significant difference (p=0.507) during 24 hours for both recovery methods. Meanwhile, CWI and AR showed  
there was significant difference (p=0.05) for 48 hours and 72 hours for both recovery methods. It concluded  
that, the result of CWI and AR groups showed significant difference between 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours  
on VAS scale. However, when comparing between groups, the result indicated there was no significant  
difference between CWI and AR on VAS scale for 24 hours. In contrast, the result for 48 hours and 72 hours  
showed there was significant difference between CWI and AR groups on VAS scale.  
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Table 4 Repeated One-way ANOVA on 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours for Perceived Pain Relieve on Cold  
Water Immersion and Active Recovery Groups.  
Perceived pain relieve (VAS)  
Sig.p  
24 hours  
48 hours  
72 hours  
Cold water immersion (N=18)  
Active recovery (N=18)  
Sig.p  
82.16 ± 3.87  
83.16± 4.49  
0.507  
31.83 ± 5.02  
50.22± 5.11  
0.05*  
1.72 ± 0.82  
19.28± 4.07  
0.05*  
0.05*  
0.05*  
*Result is significant when p<0.05  
Inferential Statistic for Repeated Measure One-way ANOVA indicated that there was significant difference in  
perceived pain relieve using VAS on Cold Water Immersion group for 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours among  
UiTM football players after three days of intervention [F (2, 34) = 2332.60, p = 0.005]. For Active Recovery  
Group indicated that there was significant difference in perceived pain relieve using VAS for 24 hours, 48  
hours and 72 hours among UiTM football players after three days of intervention [F (2, 34) = 1051.91, p =  
0.05].  
DISCUSSION  
The ability of an athlete to recover quickly was being critical part to get best performance especially compete  
in sport consisted of many variations of movement and back-to-back activity throughout the day. According to  
[28], if an athlete gets enough recovery time between training session, they can be improved on their training  
session in term of quality, volume or intensity of the training, and potential the muscle or stimulus to improve  
on the training adaptation. Nowadays, there were many types of post exercise recovery techniques used to help  
athlete to return in pre-exercise state level. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate effects between two  
methods of recovery process consist of cold water immersion recovery and active recovery on muscle recovery  
after performing high intensity interval training among UiTM Pahang male football players. Furthermore, the  
study objective is to identify better recovery methods between cold water immersion and active recovery on  
perceived pain relieve for 24 hours, 48 hours, and 72 hours after performing High Intensity Interval Training  
(HIIT). The main finding from this study suggested there was no significant difference between cold water  
immersion and active recovery during 24 hours of recovery. However, the result indicated there was significant  
effect between cold water immersion and active recovery in perceived pain relieve on VAS scale after  
performing HIIT training after 48 hours and 72 hours. Furthermore, study findings also indicated there were  
significant differences between three recovery duration i.e. after 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours for both CWI  
and AR on perceived pain relieve. This agrees with study conducted by [29], reported that soreness sensation  
on muscle recovery decrease gradually from 24 hours to 72 hours after performing high intensity exercise. This  
study finding indicated that cold water immersion was effective on muscle recovery because they reported no  
pain on their lower body after cold water immersion comparing to active recovery. This result also supported  
by [30], stated that cold water immersion had effect to reduce pain and increase performance related with delay  
onset muscle soreness. Furthermore, study from [31], who used cold water immersion after conducted  
intermittent shuttle run performance. All the participants completed 90 minutes of intermittent shuttle run and  
received cold water immersion recovery on both legs with temperature of 10°C, immersed ten minutes  
immediately after performing exercise. The result showed that muscle soreness among participants was  
reduced at 24 hours and 48 hours, suggesting that cold water immersion is effective to eliminate muscle  
soreness immediately after exercise. According to [32], [33], reported positive results in muscle recovery after  
cold water immersion in a pool with ice for 19 minutes among jiu-jitsu fighters. It supported by [33], stated  
that soreness and pain perception showed to be higher in the cold water immersion groups after 48 hours of  
recovery on the effect of post exercise cooling on muscle performance and soreness perception among 20  
healthy college athletes. Furthermore, study conducted by [34], regarding the effectiveness of cold water  
immersion in muscle soreness management compared with passive recovery, besides to identify degree of  
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water temperature in producing best result on muscle recovery. Their study indicated that using cold water  
immersion as a post exercise recovery technique and muscle relief soreness pain using temperature of 11°C to  
15°C, provided better result on reduction of muscle soreness after performing exercise. The positive effect  
from cold water immersion as post exercise recovery was supported by [31], [35], reported that cold water  
immersion can be used as a technique to reduce blood flow that causing vasoconstriction of the blood.  
Moreover, the decrease of pain sensation due to muscle soreness was associated with analgesia to reduction of  
muscle pain. [36], conducted the study on nerve pain using cryotherapy reported that cooling was able to  
decrease the skin temperature (10°C to 13°C) and decrease 10% - 33% on nerve pain after applied cryotherapy  
on post exercise recovery. It was also supported by [37], that cold water immersion can provide  
vasoconstriction, increase blood venous return and decrease oxygen saturated of blood in blood vessel.  
Furthermore, according to [14], stated that cold water immersion provides reduction in nerve conduction and  
decreased in muscle pain and spasm. The study from [38], also stated that rugby players reduced their muscle  
soreness sensation of pain, markers of muscle damage (creatine clearance) using cold water immersion method  
recovery after one hour, 18 hours and 42 hours post-match is found much better compared to active recovery.  
Study finding indicated that was no significant difference between two recovery processes on perceived pain  
relieve on 24 hours after recovery. Both of recovery methods i.e. CWI and AR showed similar in perceived  
pain rating as severe after 24 hours completed the intervention using VAS scale. The study result was similar  
with study conducted by [15], among recreational active participants to investigate the delay onset muscle  
soreness, Creatine Kinase (CK) on post exercise recovery immediately, 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours on  
exercise was drop jump performance between cold water immersion and control group. They found that both  
groups showed no significant difference on both measurements. It was supported by [39], conducted a study  
for comparison between cold water immersion and no treatment on CK and muscle soreness among physically  
active population. Measurement was taken on 1 hour, 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours after post exercise  
intervention. They reported there was no significant difference between cold water immersion group and  
control group on both measurements.  
According to [40], research on effect of cold water immersion on 48 hours performance testing in college  
football players, indicated that there was no significant difference with cold water immersion. The study was  
conducted to assess two recovery methods i.e. cold water immersion as experimental group and passive  
recovery as control group on performance of repeated yoyo intermittent recovery test. The study result showed  
that there was no significant difference between intervention conditions on yoyo intermittent performance.  
The current study finding showed that both recovery methods on 48 hours post exercise on perceived pain  
relieve revealed significant difference between cold water immersion and active recovery. In this finding,  
active recovery group showed better number of pain perception and sensation on muscle recovery compared  
with 24 hours but cold water immersion appear to be more effective than active recovery on pain perception  
and sensation of muscle recovery for 48 hours post exercise. Like previous study on effect of cold water  
immersion, the researcher report that immediate post exercise recovery has shown the positive result to  
subsequence performance on exercise. Study conducted by [33], to determine the effect of post exercise  
cooling on muscle performance and pain sensation among college students to compare two recovery methods  
i.e. cold water immersion and control group after performing exercise. Cold water immersion indicated  
positive effect on muscle performance outcome and soreness pain sensation after 24 hours and 48 hours when  
compared with control group.  
Furthermore, [41], conducted a study to find out effect of chronic cold water immersion in elite rugby players.  
They found that cold water immersion was beneficial in reducing muscle soreness and improve muscle  
performance after performing cold water immersion recovery process. These results also related with previous  
literature review on positive effect of cold water immersion enhancing muscle performing for up to 48 hours  
after rugby training or competition [38], Moreover, the significant effect of cold water immersion on muscle  
recovery after performing high intensity exercise were like study conducted by [42], on immediate effect and  
delayed cold water immersion after a high intensity exercise following by run performance among football  
players. The finding stated that immediate cold water immersion recovery after exercise has significant effect  
on running performance compared to three hour delayed cold water immersion and passive recovery. It was  
supported by other researcher, stated that performed cold water immersion immediately as post exercise  
recovery showed positive results compared with active recovery. In addition, [31], show that improvement in  
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repeated sprint performance on 48 hours after immediately performed cold water immersion compared to  
contrast water immersion and control group. This current study on immediately cold water immersion as post  
exercise recovery has similar result on muscle performance and muscle pain sensation among participant after  
performing high intensity exercise compared with active recovery.  
ACKNOWLEDGMENT  
The author thanks to the participants who take part in this study.  
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