Oxidative stress in blood plasma in persons who are submitted to cold water immersion after acute physical exercise

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of cold water immersion (CWI) following acute physical exercise on the oxidative stress in the blood plasma. Twelve men with average age of 22±1 years old, participated this study. All of them underwent the treadmill stress test followed by CWI in tank with water at 10ºC for 10 minutes. During this process, they were monitored and a set of parameters were analyzed: physical effort perception (Borg Scale), Heart Rate (HR), Blood Pressure (BP) and body heat, by measuring tympanic temperature. The morphological analysis of oxidative stress in blood plasma was done in accordance with a method known as Optical Morphology of the Oxidative Stress on Blood Plasma, which uses drops of capillary blood. A significant increase (p<0.01) in the rate of oxidative stress in plasma was noted after intense physical effort when compared with the rate of stress while at rest. However, the stress rate was significantly decreased (p<0.001) after CWI. Although further scientific studies should be carried out on the above mentioned test, may be concluded that, in the present study, the test has proven itself viable. The data found in the present study suggest that cold water immersion at 10ºC for 10 minutes following high intensity physical effort appears to be an important physical therapeutic measure towards the normalization of oxidative stress.