Adaptive changes in muscular performance and circulation by resistance training with regular cold application

(1) Sixteen male subjects participated in resistance training comprising three sets of 8-handgrip exercises at a workload that could be performed no more than eight times, three times a week for 6 weeks. Eight subjects immersed their experimental forearm in cold water (10±1 °C) for 20 min following each training period, while the remaining eight served as controls. (2) Muscular endurance with rhythmic handgrips significantly (p<0.01) increased in both groups after the training period with a non-significant difference between groups. The relative diameter of ultrasonography-evaluated brachial artery failed to increase in the immersion group despite a significant increase (p<0.05) of that in the control group after training. (3) Regular post-exercise cold application might attenuate the improvement in muscular endurance, possibly in association with reduced vascular remodeling.