Water immersion: does it enhance recovery from exercise?

PURPOSE To assess the effect that postexercise immersion in water has on subsequent exercise performance. METHODS A literary search and review of water-immersion and performance studies was conducted. RESULTS Seven articles were examined. In 2, significant benefits to performance were observed. Those 2 articles revealed a small to large effect on jump performance and isometric strength. PRACTICAL APPLICATION AND CONCLUSIONS: It is possible that water immersion might improve recovery from plyometric or muscle-damaging exercise. Such a statement needs to be verified, however, because of the scarcity of research on water immersion as a recovery strategy.