Ice Bath Recovery Study

Ice baths have long been used by elite athletes and sports people after competition and training.

Ice bath recovery study.

But a 2017 study may throw a wrench in that belief. The comprehensive study found cold water immersion after strength training hindered muscle adaptation pouring cold water on the long held theory that an ice bath helps speed up recovery. New evidence suggests ice baths do nothing to help muscle recovery after exercise. The age old technique of having an ice bath after a grueling workout could actually be impairing muscle repair and growth.

A new study has found the widely practiced routine for soothing aching muscles and pains may actually be having a detrimental effect. A 2018 metanalysis of 99 studies looked at the effectiveness of several recovery methods. The practice of using ice baths to relieve sore muscles goes back decades. Do ice baths reduce inflammation.

The assumption was that soaking in cold water promotes muscle recovery by reducing temperature blood flow and inflammation in tissues of the muscles. That regularly taking ice baths blunts some of the desired effects of.