Effects of cold-water, contrast-water therapy, and active recovery on blood biomarkers and pain in basketball players

Measure	Time point	AR	CWI	CWT	CWR	p-value
CK (U/L)	Immediate post-match	349.8 ± 89.4ᵃ	265.0 ± 62.6ᵃ	293.1 ± 84.6ᵃ	303.0 ± 86.3ᵃ	0.112
	24 h after match	453.9 ± 116.1	398.8 ± 84.9	392.7 ± 107.1	393.2 ± 109.6
	48 h after match	338.0 ± 88.2	299.8 ± 59.5	241.2 ± 67.4	292.9 ± 83.3
Mb (ng/mL)	Immediate post-match	48.1 ± 2.9ᵃ	51.8 ± 14.2ᵃ	50.0 ± 3.9ᵃ	45.7 ± 8.1ᵃ	0.089
	24 h after match	33.0 ± 2.1	38.7 ± 11.5	26.2 ± 2.1	31.2 ± 5.1
	48 h after match	30.9 ± 1.9	34.2 ± 10.2	14.6 ± 1.1	28.9 ± 4.7
Quadriceps PPT (kPa)	Immediate post-match	1021.1 ± 29.9ᵃ	1105.6 ± 17.7ᵃ	1089.8 ± 37.8ᵃ	1032.0 ± 108.7ᵃ	0.156
	24 h after match	900.5 ± 28.9	797.7 ± 28.0	892.5 ± 31.5	892.7 ± 68.1
	48 h after match	940.8 ± 34.5	793.2 ± 21.5	986.0 ± 36.0	859.9 ± 69.2
Calves PPT (kPa)	Immediate post-match	1032.0 ± 27.9ᵃ	1086.5 ± 31.9ᵃ	1055.1 ± 47.6ᵃ	989.4 ± 104.0ᵃ	0.201
	24 h after match	910.3 ± 29.5	786.5 ± 29.7	892.0 ± 37.9	852.6 ± 63.0
	48 h after match	965.2 ± 30.5	726.6 ± 35.1	990.4 ± 39.9	833.8 ± 49.7

Change scores (mean value ± SD) from immediate post-match to 24 and 48 h

Measure	Time change	AR	CWI	CWT	CWR	ANOVA
CK (U/L)	Δ24 h	104.1 ± 60.8	133.8 ± 52.8	99.6 ± 50.4	90.2 ± 54.1	F(3,76) = 1.58, p = 0.202, η ² = 0.058
	Δ48 h	−11.8 ± 64.3	34.8 ± 47.5	−51.9 ± 69.3	−10.1 ± 57.7	F(3,76) = 4.99, p = 0.003, η ² = 0.165
Mb (ng/mL)	Δ24 h	−15.1 ± 2.8	−13.1 ± 4.1	−23.8 ± 3.5	−14.5 ± 4.0	F(3,76) = 32.37, p < 0.001, η ² = 0.561
	Δ48 h	−17.2 ± 2.9	−17.6 ± 4.6	−35.4 ± 3.7	−16.8 ± 4.2	F(3,76) = 91.89, p < 0.001, η ² = 0.784
Quadriceps PPT (kPa)	Δ24 h	−120.6 ± 23.4	−307.9 ± 27.8	−197.3 ± 24.0	−139.3 ± 53.4	F(3,76) = 66.08, p < 0.001, η ² = 0.723
	Δ48 h	−80.3 ± 27.0	−312.4 ± 27.9	−103.8 ± 28.2	−172.1 ± 56.2	F(3,76) = 84.51, p < 0.001, η ² = 0.769
Calves PPT (kPa)	Δ24 h	−121.7 ± 22.8	−300.0 ± 24.9	−163.1 ± 29.2	−136.8 ± 50.7	F(3,76) = 55.79, p < 0.001, η ² = 0.688
	Δ48 h	−66.8 ± 23.0	−359.9 ± 30.5	−64.7 ± 31.6	−155.6 ± 56.0	F(3,76) = 127.84, p < 0.001, η ² = 0.835

Post hoc comparisons for CK, MB, quadriceps, and calves PPT following significant ANCOVA effects

Outcome	Time	Comparison	Mean diff	t	p	Marginal means (95% CI)
CK (U/L)	24 h	AR vs CWI	−43.67	−2.84	0.035*	AR: 399.06 (377.91, 420.22)
					0	CWI: 442.73 (421.88, 463.57)
					0	CWR: 403.92 (383.60, 424.24)
		CWI vs CWT	49.76	3.41	0.006**	CWT: 392.97 (372.69, 413.25)
	48 h	AR vs CWI	−38.84	−7.19	<0.001***	AR: 295.24 (287.82, 302.67)
		AR vs CWR	45.34	8.70	<0.001***	CWI: 334.08 (326.77, 341.40)
		CWI vs CWR	84.18	16.54	<0.001***	CWR: 249.90 (242.78, 257.03)
		CWI vs CWT	41.43	8.09	<0.001***	CWT: 292.66 (285.54, 299.77)
		CWR vs CWT	−42.75	−8.46	<0.001***
Mb (ng/mL)	24 h	AR vs CWI	−3.51	−2.91	0.029*	AR: 33.46 (31.78, 35.14)
		AR vs CWR	7.99	6.68	<0.001***	CWI: 36.97 (35.26, 38.67)
		CWI vs CWR	11.49	9.62	<0.001***	CWR: 25.47 (23.79, 27.16)
		CWI vs CWT	3.83	3.11	0.016*	CWT: 33.14 (31.43, 34.84)
		CWR vs CWT	−7.66	−6.33	<0.001***
	48 h	AR vs CWR	17.35	16.55	<0.001***	AR: 31.34 (29.87, 32.82)
		CWI vs CWR	18.62	17.78	<0.001***	CWI: 32.62 (31.12, 34.11)
		CWR vs CWT	−16.69	−15.71	<0.001***	CWR: 13.99 (12.52, 15.47)
		CWR vs CWT	−16.69	−15.71	<0.001***	CWT: 30.68 (29.18, 32.18)
Quadriceps PPT (kPa)	24 h	AR vs CWI	134.82	10.49	<0.001***	AR: 916.06 (898.96, 933.15)
		AR vs CWR	34.08	2.75	0.045*	CWI: 781.24 (764.03, 798.45)
		CWI vs CWR	−100.74	−8.76	<0.001***	CWR: 881.98 (865.40, 898.55)
		CWI vs CWT	−122.93	−9.81	<0.001***	CWT: 904.17 (887.51, 920.83)
	48 h	AR vs CWI	191.17	17.09	<0.001***	AR: 961.94 (947.07, 976.82)
		AR vs CWT	86.55	8.67	<0.001***	CWI: 770.77 (755.80, 785.75)
		CWI vs CWR	−200.93	−20.07	<0.001***	CWR: 971.70 (957.28, 986.13)
		CWI vs CWT	−104.62	−9.59	<0.001***	CWT: 875.39 (860.90, 889.89)
		CWR vs CWT	96.31	9.13	<0.001***
Calves PPT (kPa)	24 h	AR vs CWI	147.92	13.56	<0.001***	AR: 914.15 (899.50, 928.81)
		AR vs CWR	28.50	2.72	0.048*	CWI: 766.24 (750.58, 781.89)
		AR vs CWT	38.90	3.64	0.003**	CWR: 885.65 (870.93, 900.37)
		CWI vs CWR	−119.42	−11.32	<0.001***	CWT: 875.25 (859.33, 891.17)
		CWI vs CWT	−109.01	−9.10	<0.001***
	48 h	AR vs CWI	254.85	21.73	<0.001***	AR: 967.83 (952.07, 983.59)
		AR vs CWT	118.80	10.32	<0.001***	CWI: 712.98 (696.14, 729.82)
		CWI vs CWR	−273.10	−24.06	<0.001***	CWR: 986.08 (970.25, 1001.91)
		CWI vs CWT	−136.05	−10.56	<0.001***	CWT: 849.03 (831.91, 866.15)
		CWR vs CWT	137.05	11.44	<0.001***

Repeated measures ANOVA results for CK, Mb, quadriceps and calves PPT

Outcome	Effect	df	F	p	η ²
CK (U/L)	Condition	1.88, 35.80	6.42	0.005	0.115
	Time	1.08, 20,42	247.36	<0.001	0.433
	Condition × time	2.81, 53.47	11.07	0.001	0.029
Mb (ng/mL)	Condition	1.29, 24.42	10.62	0.002	0.111
	Time	1.10, 20.87	797.26	<0.001	0.581
	Condition × time	2.12, 40.29	55.87	<0.001	0.071
Quadriceps PPT (kPa)	Condition	1.77, 33.68	25.78	<0.001	0.096
	Time	1.89, 35.87	1234.64	<0.001	0.623
	Condition × time	2.35, 44.67	58.04	<0.001	0.151
Calves PPT (kPa)	Condition	2.21, 41.89	67.68	<0.001	0.183
	Time	1.66, 31.55	876.41	<0.001	0.511
	Condition × time	1.85, 35.15	89.77	<0.001	0.201

ANCOVA results for CK, Mb, quadriceps PPT, and calves PPT at 24 and 48 h post-match

Outcome	Time	Effect	F	p	η ² _p
CK (U/L)	24 h	condition	4.56	0.005	0.154
		Immediately post-match	329.69	<0.001	0.815
	48 h	Condition	91.82	<0.001	0.786
		Immediately post-match	1624.71	<0.001	0.956
Mb (ng/mL)	24 h	Condition	33.09	<0.001	0.570
		Immediately post-match	147.15	<0.001	0.662
	48 h	Condition	141.95	<0.001	0.850
		Immediately post-match	154.76	<0.001	0.674
Quadriceps PPT (kPa)	24 h	Condition	46.33	<0.001	0.649
		Immediately post-match	30.05	<0.001	0.286
	48 h	Condition	165.32	<0.001	0.869
		Immediately post-match	73.15	<0.001	0.494
Calves PPT (kPa)	24 h	Condition	69.47	<0.001	0.735
		Immediately post-match	51.39	<0.001	0.407
	48 h	Condition	248.27	<0.001	0.908
		Immediately post-match	20.08	<0.001	0.211

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/bhk-2026-0018 | Journal eISSN: 2080-2234

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Language: English

Page range: 148 - 162

Submitted on: Mar 12, 2025

Accepted on: Apr 17, 2026

Published on: May 6, 2026

Published by: University of Physical Education in Warsaw

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 1 issue per year

Keywords:

Sports Training,

Team Sports,

Performance Enhancement,

Physical Restoration

Related subjects:

Medicine,

Basic medical science,

Basic medical science, other,

Clinical medicine,

Public health,

Sports and recreation,

Sports and recreation, other,

Physical education

© 2026 Marcin Janusiak, Francisco T. González-Fernández, César Leão, Małgorzata Smoter, Aleksandra Kisilewicz, Sebastian Klich, Rui Miguel Silva, published by University of Physical Education in Warsaw
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Volume 18 (2026): Issue 1 (January 2026)

Effects of cold-water, contrast-water therapy, and active recovery on blood biomarkers and pain in basketball players

Figures & Tables

Figure 1

Descriptive statistics (Mean value ± SD) for each condition at immediate post-match, 24, and 48 h after match

Change scores (mean value ± SD) from immediate post-match to 24 and 48 h

Post hoc comparisons for CK, MB, quadriceps, and calves PPT following significant ANCOVA effects

Repeated measures ANOVA results for CK, Mb, quadriceps and calves PPT

ANCOVA results for CK, Mb, quadriceps PPT, and calves PPT at 24 and 48 h post-match

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