Exercise Recovery

Exercise Recovery

Ice baths are highly effective for exercise recovery, providing a swift and significant impact on tired and sore muscles. The cold immersion after your physical activity constricts blood vessels and reduces metabolic activity, which minimises tissue breakdown and reduces muscle soreness. This process helps to rapidly flush out lactic acid and metabolic waste from the muscles, leading to quicker recovery times. Additionally, the subsequent return of warmer blood helps to rejuvenate the muscles by delivering fresh oxygen and nutrients, effectively preparing the body for its next physical challenge.

References

Moore E, Fuller JT, Bellenger CR, Saunders S, Halson SL, Broatch JR, Buckley JD. Effects of Cold-Water Immersion Compared with Other Recovery Modalities on Athletic Performance Following Acute Strenuous Exercise in Physically Active Participants: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression. Sports Med. 2023 Mar;53(3):687- 705. doi: 10.1007/s40279- 022-01800-1
Moore E, Fuller JT, Buckley JD, Saunders S, Halson SL, Broatch JR, Bellenger CR. Impact of Cold-Water Immersion Compared with Passive Recovery Following a Single Bout of Strenuous Exercise on Athletic Performance in Physically Active Participants: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis and Meta-regression. Sports Med. 2022 Jul;52(7):1667-1688. doi: 10.1007/s40279-022- 01644-9.
Machado AF, Ferreira PH, Micheletti JK, de Almeida AC, Lemes ÍR, Vanderlei FM, Neto Junior J, Pastre CM. Can Water Temperature and Immersion Time Influence the Effect of Cold Water Immersion on Muscle Soreness? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Sports Med. 2016 Apr;46(4):503-14. doi: 10.1007/s40279-015-0431- 7.
Yutan Wang, Sijun Li, Yuanyuan Zhang, Yanru Chen, Fanghong Yan, Lin Han, Yuxia Ma, Heat and cold therapy reduce pain in patients with delayed onset muscle soreness: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 32 randomized controlled trials, Physical Therapy in Sport, Volume 48, 2021, Pages 177-187, ISSN 1466- 853X, htps://doi.org/10.1016/j.pt sp.2021.01.004.
Hausswirth C, Louis J, Bieuzen F, Pournot H, Fournier J, Filliard JR, Brisswalter J. Effects of whole-body cryotherapy vs. far-infrared vs. passive modalities on recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage in highly-trained runners. PLoS One. 2011;6(12):e27749. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0027749
Higgins, Trevor R.1,2; Greene, David A.1; Baker, Michael K.1. Effects of Cold Water Immersion and Contrast Water Therapy for Recovery From Team Sport: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 31(5):p 1443-1460, May 2017. | DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001559 and Bieuzen F, Bleakley CM, Costello JT (2013) Contrast Water Therapy and Exercise Induced Muscle Damage: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS ONE 8(4): e62356. htps://doi.org/10.1371/jou rnal.pone.0062356