is there any advice or restriction on how long after working out (for example weightlifting or running) should you do a full body cold water immersion?

For optimal muscle growth and strength adaptation, it's generally advised to avoid full-body cold water immersion immediately after workouts, particularly those focused on hypertrophy and strength. This is because cold exposure can potentially interrupt the signaling pathways necessary for muscle adaptation and growth, like the mTOR pathway 1 2.

It's recommended to wait approximately four hours after such workouts before engaging in cold water immersion. This delay allows the initial signaling and adaptation processes to proceed without interference from the cold exposure 3 2. However, if your main goal is not hypertrophy or strength, and you're more focused on other benefits like reducing inflammation or improving recovery from high-intensity training, using cold exposure soon after a workout (within minutes or hours) might be beneficial 4 5.

In summary, the timing of cold immersion should align with your primary fitness goals, considering recovery needs and performance targets.