Differential Effects of Cold-Water Immersion on Simple and Complex Cognitive Processing in Football Players

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the differential effects of short-duration cold-water immersion (CWI) on simple and complex cognitive processing among university football players, hypothesizing that CWI would significantly enhance executive and psychomotor functions compared to standard recovery. Conducted as a quasi-experimental study with a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design, 30 male athletes aged 19–21 years were divided into intervention (n=15) and control (n=15) groups using purposive sampling. The intervention group underwent CWI (10°C, progressive durations of 10s, 30s, and 1 min, 2x/week for 2 weeks), while cognitive performance was measured before and after using validated instruments: Trail Making Test A (TMT-A) for simple processing speed, Trail Making Test B (TMT-B) for executive function, and Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT) for psychomotor alertness. Statistical analyses included paired and independent t-tests, Wilcoxon, and Mann-Whitney U. CWI resulted in significant improvements in executive function (TMT-B, p=0.033) and psychomotor vigilance (PVT, p=0.034) compared to controls, while improvements in simple processing speed (TMT-A) were significant only within the intervention group, not between groups. These findings demonstrate that short-duration CWI effectively enhances key cognitive domains crucial for football performance. Implications suggest that integrating CWI into recovery protocols may optimize both physical and cognitive readiness in athletes, recommending further research using larger, more diverse samples and extended interventions.