Why An Ice Bath?
Why would anybody volunteer to sit in a bath filled with ice for 6-10 minutes? Recovery is the answer.
Athletes are always looking for an edge, and an ice bath is a well known option to help speed up recovery time for the muscles and body.
What does an ice bath do for you?
Blood vessels bring oxygen to the tissues and remove waste products of exercise, the most common being lactic acid.
Once you’re in the icy cold water causes your blood vessels to tighten and drains the blood out of your legs. After 10 minutes your legs feel cold and numb.
When you get out of the bath, your legs fill up with ‘new’ blood that invigorates the muscles with oxygen to help the cells function better.
The water doesn’t have to be too cold, as cool water will also help your recovery, so don’t feel the need to get carried away with how low you can take the temperature.
You may want to read a book or listen to music to take your mind off of the experience, but sports science swears by an ice bath.
It may be worth adding one to your routine each month.
