'Ice baths can be a great tool to speed up recovery, especially after high-intensity exercise or endurance training as it supports muscle power, perceived recovery, and decreased muscle soreness,' says Fullerton.
The cold temperature will also reduce swelling and tissue breakdown and shift lactic acid away from your muscles. When you get out of an ice bath, your muscle tissues and your entire body will begin to warm up, which causes your circulation to increase and your muscles to relax.
Many use either ice bath immersion for a period of 5–10 min (sometimes reported up to 20 min) or alternating therapy between the ice bath plunge and tepid water immersion, each lasting 1–5 min. With intense exercise, there will be some microtrauma and tears in the muscle fibers affected.
Mild movement helps tissue to heal faster, and the application of cold suppresses the immune responses that start and hasten recovery. Icing does help suppress pain, but athletes are usually far more interested in returning as quickly as possible to the playing field.
When you take an ice bath, the cold temperature narrows your blood vessels. This decreases blood flow to your muscles, which may reduce inflammation and swelling. Some research suggests that cold therapy may lower post-exercise inflammation better than compression garments (like compression socks).
Dipping yourself in an ice bath for 30 days triggers considerable physiological adaptations such as reduced muscle soreness, improved circulation, and potentially heightened immune function. You may also notice an unexpected boost in mental resilience and mood regulation.
It takes a lot of energy to keep your body warm, so you'd think that calories would melt away. However, studies show that a ten-minute cold plunge will only burn 10-20 additional calories.
Prolonged exposure to cold water can lower your core body temperature, leading to hypothermia. This occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it, causing shivering, confusion and, in extreme cases, unconsciousness.
Maybe think twice about ice
"Icing is more about comfort than treating inflammation," Frenkiewich says. Some research shows that icing an injured area can hinder healing. A long period of applying cold to the skin—intended to numb the area and reduce inflammation—can curtail blood flow and potentially harm soft tissue.
When the body is then exposed to warmth, it speeds up blood flow in the affected areas, promoting faster recovery. Balancing this process is crucial to obtaining the full benefits of the ice bath. With that in mind, it is generally recommended to wait at least 2 hours before taking a warm shower or bath.
Steam baths increase blood flow to muscles to relieve pain and muscle damage. Engage in this type of bath therapy immediately after exercising to assist with post-workout recovery.
If you drink chilled water, there is a temperature mismatch that takes a toll on your digestive health. Your body also finds it difficult to absorb cold water after a workout. Drinking chilled water right after a workout may lead to chronic stomach pain as extremely cold water shocks your body.
Soaking in an Epsom salt bath has long been considered a way to ease muscle soreness and pain. The research on this is limited. Some experts believe that the relief people find may be related to the warm water rather than the Epsom salt. Some people claim that an Epsom salt bath can reduce inflammation in your body.
Ice baths can be an especially effective way to burn fat outside of the gym. When you're exposed to cold conditions, your body activates a special type of fat, known as brown fat, to help you stay warm.
While many people feel energized by a cold plunge, it makes sense that you might feel tired after one. Your body has to work hard to handle the stress of being submerged in very cold water, and it puts a lot of energy into conserving your body heat.
He said ice baths and other forms of cold-water immersion after regular or intense exercise can ease some muscle soreness. “Doing it consistently after exercise is what we have the best evidence for, in that it helps with delayed onset muscle soreness,” said Dr. Veigel.
Athletes and others find that regular ice baths can reduce inflammation, relieve sore muscles, and help with overall exercise recovery. “Small studies show that people who regularly take ice baths experience fewer bacterial infections, suggesting the practice can support your body's immune response,” says Dr.
The cold water constricts blood vessels and stimulates circulation. This rush of blood to the face helps deliver oxygen and nutrients to the skin cells, promoting a healthy and radiant complexion. Improved circulation also aids in reducing puffiness and under-eye bags.
For immediate self-care of a muscle strain, try the R.I.C.E. approach — rest, ice, compression, elevation: Rest. Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort.
Difficulty walking after leg day is often a result of microscopic muscle damage caused by intense exercise. Eccentric contractions, common in leg workouts, can lead to tiny tears in muscle fibers. The body's natural response includes inflammation, resulting in swelling and leg soreness.
While some studies suggest a temporary drop in testosterone immediately following cold exposure, regular cold plunge sessions have been linked to stable or increased testosterone levels over time.
If your goal is to reap the maximum benefit possible then there's no need to stay in any longer than 3 minutes! The long answer: there are two levers you can pull to increase the intensity: time, and temperature. A cold shower in the UK is 6°c-15°c and most 'ice baths' won't get below 3°c.
FAT LOSS PROTOCOL
Submerge to your shoulders. Don't fight the shiver; you can even sometimes facilitate the onset by shivering voluntarily. Achieve shiver and keep shivering for 60-120 seconds. Once you have been shivering for 60-120 seconds, exit the tub and stand near it, but don't cross your arms or dry off.