You might often have seen professional athletes hop in an ice bath after a game. Or you know a fitness buff who swears by ice baths for post-workout recovery. Cold-water plunges or ice baths in Melbourne are a form of cryotherapy that involves using cold water to treat various health issues. Although this technique has become popular again in recent years, it's not new, and people have been using cold-water immersion for health and wellness for centuries.
What are the benefits of ice baths?
Ice baths aren't very extreme but include a quick plunge in 50 to 59°F water.
Find out the benefits of ice baths
1. Reduces inflammation and swelling
The cold temperature narrows your blood vessels when you take an ice bath. This decreases blood flow to the muscles, which may reduce inflammation and swelling. In addition, research suggests cold therapy lowers post-exercise inflammation.
2. Relieves sore muscles
Taking a cold bath might help relieve sore muscles. Scientists are still determining exactly how it works. But less inflammation and slower nerve signalling could mean less pain. Cold water could also reduce your perception of pain or how much soreness you feel. Evidence suggests that ice baths also ease pain from chronic conditions. This includes rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and fibromyalgia.
3. Aids exercise recovery
The blood vessels dilate when people take an ice bath, increasing circulation. That's because the nutrient-rich blood flow to your muscles may help to remove metabolic waste that gathers during exercise. That's another reason people use ice baths in Melbourne for post-workout recovery.
4. Lowers core body temperature
One of the most apparent benefits is that ice baths can aid you in cooling down when overheating. One study has found that soaking in cold water for under 10 minutes reduces your core body temperature after a workout. Cooling down after you sweat can help you avoid heat stroke and exhaustion.
5. Boosts immunity
Research evidence suggests that ice baths support a healthy immune system. For example, in a small study, people who combined the techniques of cold water immersion, deep breathing, and meditation had lesser bacterial infection symptoms than those who did not. But it's difficult to know how effective a cold water bath is for your immune system because the study looks at several methods.
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