Ever heard of an ice tub? Lots of really, REALLY cold water alongside ice. This might seem a bit crazy since it is already such cold water, but there are many good things that can come out of sitting in the ice bath. So I figured we should delve deeper into why ice tubs are so damn good!
Another benefit of sitting in an ice tub is that it can help your muscles recover faster after getting a work-out. Sometimes when we exercise — like running or playing sports — our muscles develop tiny tears. These microtears can leave our muscles feeling achy and swollen. Sitting in an ice tub will help alleviate this soreness and inflammation, so that you can start to recover more quickly. This is like giving your muscles a new lease on life!
Long story short, an ice bath can help you feel more alive and one step closer to kicking the day off. You know how when you dive into an ice-cold swimming pool on a hot summer day? While this might take you by surprise the first time, it often leaves you feeling very focused and awake afterward. This can also happen if you use an ice tub. Despite the initial awkwardness, within seconds it can help you feel more awake and alert.
Taking an ice bath after a workout with active recovery? You can still feel those microscopic tears in your muscles right? This may be a source of pain and discomfort. By taking an ice bath, you can limit that soreness and get your muscles to recover 10-20x faster. That means you can return to the activities you enjoy even sooner!
After the ice tub is best following exercise. Another neat trick is to soak in a bathtub full of cold water and ice; 10-15 minutes should do it. This is also a good idea after an intense game or competition because it will reduce the time that your body needs to be able to recover and feel normal.
A more known saying for athletes is that understanding training hard is important but also equally as beneficial to an athlete it recovery. When you do not allow your body to recover properly after a tough workout, it could hurt how well you perform. So, an ice tub can actaully make you a better athlete!
Cold water constricts your blood vessels, so when you sit in cold water, those veins tighten up and shrink. This helps bring down the swell and inflammation on your muscles. Then, when you climb out of the tub and your blood vessels open back up. This is called vasodilation, and it brings brand new bloods oxygen into your muscles. With greater flow comes a quicker return to balance and normal function, enabling them to heal even faster so you can feel better sooner.
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