*Article* **The Effect of Submaximal Exercise Followed by Short-Term Cold-Water Immersion on the Inflammatory State in Healthy Recreational Athletes: A Cross-Over Study**

**Marta Pawłowska 1,\*, Celestyna Mila-Kierzenkowska 1, Tomasz Boraczy ´nski 2, Michał Boraczy ´nski 3, Karolina Szewczyk-Golec 1,\*, Paweł Sutkowy 1, Roland Wesołowski 1, Małgorzata Smoguła <sup>1</sup> and Alina Wo ´zniak <sup>1</sup>**


**Abstract:** Cold-water immersion (CWI) after exercise is a method used by sportsmen to improve recovery. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of a 3 min CWI on the inflammatory state by measuring levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), and activities of α1-antitrypsin (AAT) and lysosomal enzymes, including arylsulfatase (ASA), acid phosphatase (AcP), and cathepsin D (CTS D), in the blood of healthy recreational athletes. Male volunteers (*n* = 22, age 25 ± 4.8 yr) performed a 30 min submaximal aerobic exercise, followed by a 20 min rest at room temperature (RT-REST) or a 20 min rest at room temperature with an initial 3 min 8 ◦C water bath (CWI-REST). Blood samples were taken at baseline, immediately after exercise, and after 20 min of recovery. The IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α levels and the AAT activity increased significantly immediately after exercise. The IL-6 level was significantly higher after CWI-REST than after RT-REST. No changes in the activities of the lysosomal enzymes were observed. The effect of a 3 min CWI on the level of inflammatory markers during post-exercise recovery was limited. Thus, it might be considered as a widely available method of regeneration for recreational athletes.

**Keywords:** cold-water immersion; cytokines; exercise; inflammation; lysosomal enzymes; regeneration method; recovery
