Practice characteristics and perceived benefits and risks of cold-water immersion in healthy adults: insights from recreational settings

Athletes often use cold water immersion (CWI) to enhance responses to exercise and speed recovery. Much less is known about practice and environmental characteristics, perceived benefits and risks, and adverse experiences of CWI in healthy adults in a recreation setting and if these factors differ by sex. Members of the CWI communities completed a 118-item survey. Caucasian males (n = 66, age: 46y) and females (n = 27, age: 49y) were healthy, highly educated, and physically active. Primary aim to pursue CWI was to improve general health, mental health, and fitness. Participants engaged in CWI 1–3 times per week (55%), with sessions lasting either 5 min (40%) or 6–40 min (60%) in water temperatures ranging from 5–15 °C (90%). Men reported higher pain during CWI than women; however, participants generally rated the perceived risks associated with CWI as very low and reported no adverse events. The current data expands existing laboratory data in healthy middle-aged adults using CWI recreationally and suggest that these individuals can continue to use CWI safely for improved physical and mental function.