In fact, one of
the major characteristics of the inflammatory response
resulting from exercise-induced muscle injury
is an increase in the permeability of vessel walls.
Given that creatine kinase diffuses into the lymph
vessels, it is possible that a reduced permeability of
these vessel walls induced by cold water immersion
reduced the rate of creatine kinase efflux from the
muscle. However, further analysis of direct histological
markers of muscle damage resulting from this
type of therapy would is necessary.