{
  "abstract": "Background: Intermittent cold compression (ICC) is widely used for post-exercise recovery, but the optimal pressure for gastrocnemius recovery in soccer players remains unclear. This study investigated the immediate effects of different ICC pressure levels on gastrocnemius recovery after fatigue. Methods: Seven male collegiate soccer players (national Level 2 or above) participated in a randomized crossover trial. Following a 90-minute soccer-specific fatigue protocol, participants received a single 20-minute, 1°C ICC intervention at either low pressure (LP, 5–15 mmHg) or moderate pressure (MP, 5–50 mmHg), with a 48-hour washout. Outcomes included subjective perceptions (VAS pain, Borg CR10 fatigue), motor function (countermovement jump [CMJ] height, peak force, peak power, concentric work, rate of force development [RFD]), muscle mechanical properties (tone, stiffness, elasticity), and muscle architecture (thickness, pennation angle), assessed pre-and post-intervention. Results: Pain and RPE scores decreased significantly from pre- to post-intervention (p < 0.05), with no significant pressure or pressure × time effects. Significant time effects were found for CMJ height (F = 25.94, p = 0.002, η2ₚ = 0.812), peak force (F = 11.07, p = 0.016, η2ₚ = 0.649), and peak power (F = 13.17, p = 0.011, η2ₚ = 0.687), all declining post-intervention. Significant pressure × time interactions emerged for RFD (F = 6.07, p = 0.049, η2ₚ = 0.503) and lateral gastrocnemius logarithmic decrement (F = 9.21, p = 0.023, η2ₚ = 0.606). Conclusions: While both regimens alleviated subjective symptoms, significant pressure × time interactions were observed for RFD and lateral gastrocnemius logarithmic decrement, suggesting that compression pressure may influence the acute neuromuscular and mechanical responses to ICC. These findings should be interpreted cautiously given the small sample size and the absence of significant within-condition changes in RFD.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Institute of Artificial Intelligence in Sports, Beijing Key Laboratory of Interdisciplinary Intelligent Technologies in Sports Medicine and Engineering, Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing, China",
    "Sports Medical Supervision Research Center, Research Institute of Sports Medicine, General Administration of Sport of China, Beijing, China"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
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        0
      ],
      "name": "Junjie Ma"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Ying Liu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Fujian Sun"
    },
    {
      "name": "Changfei Guo"
    },
    {
      "name": "Can Gao"
    },
    {
      "name": "Dong Zhang"
    },
    {
      "name": "Dongxue Liang"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/084mq40vzj91d.bib",
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  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0361886",
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  "id": "084mq40vzj91d",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0361886",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Anatomy/Musculoskeletal system/Muscles/Gastrocnemius muscles"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Anatomy/Musculoskeletal system/Muscles/Skeletal muscles"
    ],
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      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Psychology/Behavior/Recreation/Sports"
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      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Sports science/Sports"
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      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Anatomy/Musculoskeletal system/Muscles/Gastrocnemius muscles"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Anatomy/Musculoskeletal system/Muscles/Skeletal muscles"
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      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Clinical medicine/Signs and symptoms/Fatigue"
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      "/Medicine and health sciences/Clinical medicine/Signs and symptoms/Pain"
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      "/Medicine and health sciences/Radiology and imaging/Diagnostic radiology/Ultrasound imaging"
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      "/Physical sciences/Materials science/Material properties/Mechanical properties/Stiffness"
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  "openalex": null,
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  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-11-05",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/084mq40vzj91d.ris",
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    {
      "first_seen": "2026-11-06T12:20:42Z",
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      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0361886"
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "chemistry",
      "origin": "plos:materials science",
      "subfield": "materials-polymers"
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    {
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      "origin": "plos:diagnostic radiology",
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  "title": "Immediate gastrocnemius responses to intermittent cold compression at different pressure levels in soccer players",
  "title_text": "Immediate gastrocnemius responses to intermittent cold compression at different pressure levels in soccer players",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-07T12:20:24Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/084mq40vzj91d",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
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}