What is the biochemical and physiological rationale for using cold-water immersion in sports recovery? A systematic review

This is a systematic review (QUORUM flow diagram, two independent searchers, 16 included studies) examining the biochemical and physiological rationale for cold-water immersion in recovery, so no trial- or cohort-level risk-of-bias instrument applies to it. The extracted evidence documents the search and eligibility process but reports no design, participant numbers, outcomes, direction of effect, or funding, and gives no information on how the included studies' quality was appraised. Any certainty judgment about cold plunges from this record therefore rests on the underlying primary studies, which are not characterised here.