Which effect best describes how ice baths influence DOMS?

Which effect best describes how ice baths influence DOMS?

• A. Increase muscle swelling
• B. Prepare muscles for immediate exertion
• C. Increase inflammation
• D. Reduce muscle swelling

Answer: (D)

Ice baths help with DOMS mainly by reducing swelling. After strenuous or unfamiliar exercise, small muscle injuries trigger inflammation and fluid buildup in the tissues, which contributes to soreness and stiffness. Cooling causes blood vessels to constrict (vasoconstriction) and lowers the rate of fluid leakage into the muscle, so less edema forms and the inflammatory response is dampened. With less swelling and pressure around the nerves, the pain feels reduced and stiffness is eased. So the best description of the effect is reducing muscle swelling. These baths don’t prepare muscles for immediate exertion—that’s more about warming up—and they don’t increase inflammation or swelling; they tend to lessen both.

Ice baths help with DOMS mainly by reducing swelling. After strenuous or unfamiliar exercise, small muscle injuries trigger inflammation and fluid buildup in the tissues, which contributes to soreness and stiffness. Cooling causes blood vessels to constrict (vasoconstriction) and lowers the rate of fluid leakage into the muscle, so less edema forms and the inflammatory response is dampened. With less swelling and pressure around the nerves, the pain feels reduced and stiffness is eased. So the best description of the effect is reducing muscle swelling. These baths don’t prepare muscles for immediate exertion—that’s more about warming up—and they don’t increase inflammation or swelling; they tend to lessen both.