For a sports enthusiast, exercise brings not only sweat and achievement, but also injuries and fatigue that can plague them from time to time. When seeking relief, ice baths are a method that should be carefully considered before proceeding. Nowadays, there are many ice bath products, such as portable cold plunge pool, portable ice bath with lid, and portable cold bath, etc. What are the benefits of this seemingly simple recovery method for runners?
When immersed in ice water, the freezing temperature of the water can leave us breathless, and when we step into the water, our bodies immediately begin to 'hyperventilate' as we don't acclimatise and go into 'fight' or 'flight mode' due to cold shock. The body goes into 'fight' or 'flight mode' due to cold shock because we are not acclimatised. Every cell in the body is affected by this stress, which is very beneficial to us. Microstress may feel painful in the moment, but it is good in the long run, which will help overall health by increasing metabolism. It will help with meat recovery and fat storage and even mental balance. In addition, during running, muscles may feel pain due to small tears, ice baths are like a caring 'masseuse', can make blood vessels contract, speed up blood flow, for the damaged muscles to deliver more oxygen and nutrients to speed up the recovery process and reduce pain. In addition, studies have found that ice baths or help train the vagus nerve, which is known to give a sense of mental balance because of an increase in serotonin in the brain, which can't be obtained by simply taking a cold shower, you have to be immersed in icy water, and an increase in oxytocin, which is a natural drug in our brain that makes us feel very relaxed and happy.
So, next time you're done running, try an ice bath.
