Ice Bath Recovery Study

The assumption was that soaking in cold water promotes muscle recovery by reducing temperature blood flow and inflammation in tissues of the muscles.

Ice bath recovery study.

Ice baths have long been used by elite athletes and sports people after competition and training. Long a practice of elites post run ice baths have come under a bit of mixed metaphor alert fire lately on two grounds. The age old technique of having an ice bath after a grueling workout could actually be impairing muscle repair and growth. That regularly taking ice baths blunts some of the desired effects of.

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. Some research suggests ice baths may reduce soreness after workouts. But a 2017 study may throw a wrench in that belief. A 2018 metanalysis of 99 studies looked at the effectiveness of several recovery methods.

Do ice baths reduce inflammation. New evidence suggests ice baths do nothing to help muscle recovery after exercise.