Ice baths

The Minstrel

Why do some atheletes take ice-cold baths?

smashey

They take ice cold water baths to stop their muscles from aching. It also helps negate the build up of lactic acid and speeds up their recovery after an intense training session or game in the case of rugby players etc.

Hail 2 Da Chimp

I've tried cold showers after long sessions but it never really worked for me. Never tried an ice bath, it sounds like my idea of hell though...

smashey

Hail 2 Da Chimp wrote: »

I've tried cold showers after long sessions but it never really worked for me. Never tried an ice bath, it sounds like my idea of hell though...

I did it once after a rugby session in 34 deg heat.

Hell is too nice a name for it. :eek:

cowzerp

The ice cold reduces swelling in muscles meaning there is a quicker recovery and less chance of injury.

same idea as ice packs

Brian?

cowzerp wrote: »

The ice cold reduces swelling in muscles meaning there is a quicker recovery and less chance of injury.

same idea as ice packs

I know this is right, but I always wondered why. It doesn't seem that logical to me as icing reduces the blood flow to an area, blood carries nutrients to the muscle which cause the muscle to grow and heal. Have I got something wrong here?

hunnymonster

There are two things at play here.
1. only ice
This is used when there is significant inflammation. The cold reduces the inflammation and so the pain and damage
2. alternating ice and heat
this "flushes" the muscles, the cold contracts and pushes out the crap the heat brings new blood into the muscles to help with repair etc.

I try to do option 2 after long cycles but often find it hard to get back into the ice after the hot shower.

cowzerp

The swelling is the main risk to muscles, the nutrients will come in normal blood flow anyway so all your doing is stopping excess swelling not full blood flow..

Roper

You can just use contrast showers although I think with ice baths to do them on any sort of regular basis can lead to getting a kink for it and before you know it you're wearing one of these and going to people who like you to address them as mistress.


They're awful.

kerinsp

Nice mask Barry!

ice baths - I'd rather stab my ear with a stanley knife

FrankGrimes

As I'm at the 'do anything that might work' stage for dealing with my shin problems, I've recently taken to having turkish baths and jacuzzis and then jumping into the plunge pool for 30 seconds. The plunge pool really makes a difference and takes a good bit of the residual pain away.

I'll take Option 2 listed above onboard though and start going back into the jacuzzi after the plunge pool and repeat that a few times.

Racing Flat

I wonder about the effectiveness of ice post injury or training...while there will be a narrowing of superficial blood vessels in respopnse to ice (and so there will be less blood flow and therefore less swelling in the area), as soon as the ice is removed there is an increase in blood flow, and so perhaps increased swelling in the area, so the net effect is the same amount of swelling as if you just put no ice on!

In relation to the 'flushing' effect on the circulation attributed to alternating hot and cold, this is theoretical and has never been shown to actually happen as far as I'm aware. ie getting rid of the bad stuff and replacing it with healthy nutrients.

The popularity of ice baths may well be related to the fact that it is difficult to do - if it is difficult it must be good for us! Sonia O'Sullivan says as much in her book - she'd do anything if she was told it would make her better, regardless as to whether there was any evidence that it was effective or not, but following the principle that 'sure what harm can it do, it'll either help or not help'. I have the impression that if rumours started that a nice warm bubble bath led to quicker recovery following training or injury, it would be far less popular than ice baths have been!