![]() ![]() So thankfully, there’s no need to fully freeze to get the most benefit. Interestingly, a 2018 study showed a 10-minute bath was as beneficial as a 20-minute bath in helping post-workout recovery, suggesting that staying in an ice bath longer is not necessarily better. ![]() It’s not the most enjoyable thing to do either. ![]() When it comes to ice baths, you don’t want to stay in too long at the risk of getting hypothermia (a potentially life-threatening condition that develops when your body temperature drops too low). So anytime you’re brave enough to embrace the chill ought to do the trick. Research suggests cold water therapy straight after a hot workout can help with recovery, but the good news is if you’re not looking to soothe muscle soreness there’s no right time to do it that’s shown to be more effective. The ice bath regulars say it takes about five minutes before you start to relax into it. So, if standing under a cold shower is anything to go by, I can only imagine what an ice bath feels like. When you hop out, you’re hit with an instant buzz, and you feel good. But I don’t think you ever stop focusing on the time-something I need to work on. You start to focus on your breath, your heart rate and breathing slows, and you begin to feel somewhat relaxed. But it does get easier after the first 15 seconds-I guess you kind of acclimatise and build up a tolerance to it. Your heart rate speeds up, and you can feel a little dizzy. It might seem like a strange concept, given that cold-water showers are usually the result of a hot water shortage, but (placebo or not), this feat of 30 second cold showers in the morning (a few times a week) has really boosted my energy, mood, and mental clarity. So much that even 10 seconds seems like an eternity. Personally, I’ve yet to take an ice bath plunge, but I have blasted the shower cold and let me tell you, it literally takes your breath away. ![]() Cold water therapy is said to shock the cardiovascular system, improving its function, circulation, and the immune system, as well as reducing inflammation in the body. It sounds crazy, we know, but there’s a method to this madness. So, what exactly is cold water therapy?Ĭold water therapy (also known as cold water immersion or a form of cryotherapy) is the act of using cold water (about 15☌) for a cascade of possible health benefits. Whether you immerse yourself in an ice-filled bath or take the more private (and slightly more accessible) hot-to-cold shower approach, one thing’s for certain: cold water therapy is said to be a game-changer due to its alleged health benefits. What was initially considered an athlete’s first choice for workout recovery has now become the popular health therapy for many of us-including myself. Skip to content Skip to footer Bupa Healthlink Health conditions Allergies Angina Asthma Cancer & malignancy Cold, flu & cough Cold sore & oral herpes COPD Dementia Diabetes Disability Gastro Gut health Heart attack Knee pain Pain Palliative care STIs Stroke More conditions - Healthy recipes Breakfast Lunch Dinner Dessert Snacks & Drinks Family & pregnancy Getting pregnant Pregnancy Babies Kids Teenagers Families Healthy ageing Postnatal depression Pregnancy loss Mental health & wellbeing Anxiety disorder Body image Depression Grief & loss Mental health Mental illness Selfcare Sleep Health & fitness Diet & nutrition Exercises & workouts Fitness goals Rehabilitation Sports injuries Weight loss & management Sex & relationships Women's health Men's health LGBTQIA+ health Sexual pleasure Relationship advice Safe sex Home Travel & Beauty Healthy homes Pets Skincare Travel tips Health Tools BMI calculator Ideal weight calculator Waist to hip ratio Calorie converter Target heart rate Calories burned calculator Selfcare Cold water therapy: A guide to ice baths and cold showers January 11 2023įrom cold showers to ice baths, cold water therapy is on the rise due to its many alleged health benefits.Ĭold water therapy has gathered a lot of attention in the last year, largely thanks to the influence of the Wim Hof Method (and the preceding global TikTok trend ). ![]()
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