Doctoral Candidate Brochure: Jennifer Rivera
Doctoral Dissertation Defense
of
Jennifer Rivera
For the degree of
Doctor of Philosophy
Exercise Physiology
The Effects of Cold-Water Immersion Timing on Athletic Performance and Recovery
June 20, 2025
10:30 a.m.
MACC Annex Room 272
The Effects of Cold-Water Immersion Timing on Athletic Performance and Recovery
Cold water immersion (CWI) alters the inflammatory response, which may result in the attenuation of skeletal muscle repair following resistance exercise. Adoption of CWI reflecting the inflammatory response should be considered in order to preserve the process and improve rate of recovery for athletic performance. Therefore, the purpose of this investigation was: 1) Examine the effects of CWI timing on acute measure of athletic performance and, 2) Examine the timing of CWI and its effects on subjective measures of recovery and ability to repeat a bout of exercise. 18 males arrived to the laboratory over five visits. Visit 1 consisted of individual completing strength assessments for the exercise protocol. Visit 2 consisted of completing surveys and performance tests prior to exercise (PRE), immediately post exercise (IP), following the completion of the randomly assigned recovery intervention (REC) and one-hour (1H) following recovery. Visits 3 and 4, which were 24- (24H) and 48- (48H) hours later, consisted of completing surveys and performance tests. Visit 5 consisted of individuals completing surveys and repeating the exercise bout. Changes in performance and survey data were analyzed using a 3x6 repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) from PRE, IP, REC, 1H, 24H and 48H, whereas subject measures of recovery and ability to repeat the exercise bout were analyzed using a 3x2 repeated measures ANOVA. The delayed adoption of CWI provided no greater benefit than applied immediately post exercise and a control for performance, subject measure of recovery and ability to repeat a bout of exercise.
About the Candidate
Jennifer Rivera
M.S., Master of Science in Exercise Physiology
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
B.S., Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology
California State University, Fullerton
Jennifer is a Ph.D. Candidate at Â鶹´«Ã½, specializing in Exercise Physiology. Over the past four years, Jennifer has been able to enhance her professional development within the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) as well as the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). She has been fortunate enough to be awarded two student research grants and numerous scholarships sponsored by the NSCA. Jennifer was also selected for professional development programs sponsored by ACSM and NSCA which led to her active involvement within an affiliation committee.
Guided by the mentorship of Dr. Adam R. Jajtner in the Exercise Performance and Recovery Laboratory, as well as the Exercise Biochemistry and Immunology Laboratory, Jennifer seeks to carry on the biochemistry skills sets she has learned in order to expand her findings and research agenda. She is looking forward to translating her findings into an athletic setting as well as the tactical realm. Looking ahead, she plans to continue teaching and researching the effect of various recovery interventions on human performance and the inflammatory process.
Doctoral Dissertation Committee
Director
Adam R. Jajtner, Ph.D., CSCS*D
Associate Professor
School of Health Sciences
College of Education, Health and Human Services
Members
Meghan K. Magee, Ph.D., CSCS, CISSN
Assistant Professor
School of Health Sciences
College of Education, Health and Human Services
Jacob E. Barkley, Ph.D.
Professor
School of Health Sciences
College of Education, Health and Human Services
Gerald T. Mangine, Ph.D., CSCS*D
Associate Professor
Wellstar College of Health and Human Services
Department of Exercise Science and Sport Management
Graduate Faculty Representative
John Gunstad, Ph.D.
Professor
School of Health Sciences
Department of Psychological Sciences