Effectiveness of ice bath therapy after high-intensity exercise in reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and creatine kinase activity in adolescent males

Authors

  • Adi Pranoto Department of Sports Coaching Education, Faculty of Sports and Health Science, Universitas Negeri Surabaya https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4080-9245
  • Irmantara Subagio Department of Sport Coaching Education, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Universitas Negeri Surabaya
  • Gigih Siantoro Department of Sport Coaching Education, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Universitas Negeri Surabaya
  • Afif Rusdiawan Department of Sport Science, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Universitas Negeri Surabaya
  • Mochamad Purnomo Sport and Exercise Research Center, Universitas Negeri Surabaya
  • Donny Ardy Kusuma Sport and Exercise Research Center, Universitas Negeri Surabaya
  • Bhekti Lestari Department of Sport Coaching Education, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Universitas Negeri Surabaya
  • Muhammad Kharis Fajar Departemen of Sport Coaching, Faculty of Vocational, Universitas Negeri Surabaya
  • I Dewa Made Aryananda Wijaya Kusuma Department of Sport Coaching Education, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Universitas Negeri Surabaya
  • Bekir Erhan Orhan Faculty of Sports Sciences, Istanbul Aydın University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v68.116129

Keywords:

High-intensity exercise, ice bath therapy, recovery mode, soccer athlete

Abstract

Introduction: Recovery is a vital component of physical activity, serving to restore the body’s physiological equilibrium after intense exertion. However, effective and efficient models of recovery therapy remain underreported in current literature.

Objective: This quasi-experimental study aimed to examine the effects of ice bath therapy following high-intensity exercise on markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and creatine kinase (CK) activity in adolescent males.

Methodology: Twenty male undergraduate students (n = 20; aged 19–22 years) majoring in Football Coaching at the Faculty of Sports and Health Sciences, Universitas Negeri Surabaya (UNESA), participated in this study. They received ice bath therapy (IBT) after high-intensity exercise for four weeks. IL-6 concentrations were measured using an ELISA Kit, MDA levels with a Colorimetric Assay Kit, and CK activity with an Activity Assay Kit. Paired and independent sample t-tests were used, and Cohen’s d was calculated to determine effect size at a 95% confidence level.

Results: Significant reductions were observed in Interleukin-6 (IL-6) by 29.49 %, Malondialdehyde (MDA) by 37.75 %, and CK activity by 84.45 % after intervention in the IBT group (all p ≤ 0.05). Between-group comparisons also revealed significant differences in all three biomarkers (all p ≤ 0.05), with large to very large effect sizes (Cohen’s d > 1.7), indicating a strong impact of the therapy.

Conclusions: Ice bath therapy after high-intensity exercise can be an effective therapy model in significantly reducing levels of IL-6, MDA, and CK activity in adolescent males.

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Published

2025-06-13

How to Cite

Pranoto, A., Subagio, I., Siantoro, G., Rusdiawan, A., Purnomo, M., Kusuma, D. A., … Orhan, B. E. (2025). Effectiveness of ice bath therapy after high-intensity exercise in reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and creatine kinase activity in adolescent males. Retos, 68, 1404–1412. https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v68.116129

Issue

Vol. 68 (2025)

Section

Original Research Article

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Copyright (c) 2025 Adi Pranoto, Irmantara Subagio, Gigih Siantoro, Afif Rusdiawan, Mochamad Purnomo, Donny Ardy Kusuma, Bhekti Lestari, Muhammad Kharis Fajar, I Dewa Made Aryananda Wijaya Kusuma, Bekir Erhan Orhan

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