Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Ice baths: Are we doing it wrong?
https://medicalxpress.com ^ | October 19, 2021 | by University of Central Lancashire

Posted on 10/19/2021 7:38:43 AM PDT by Red Badger

Credit: University of Central Lancashire

==========================================================================

Whilst ice baths are popular with many athletes to aid recovery, new research published in the scientific journal Sports Sciences for Health suggests that many people might not see the expected benefits because they're not doing it correctly.

The study, led by researchers from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), invited athletes, coaches and support practitioners to provide anonymous feedback about their current cold-water immersion (CWI) protocols.

Out of the 111 respondents, most were involved in elite sport at international, national and club level, with many having used CWI previously and 78 percent finding it beneficial for recovery.

The study found that more than half of the respondents used a water temperature outside of the recommended range of 9 to 15 degrees Celsius and only 14 percent spent the recommended duration of 10 to 15 minutes in the water. Indeed, the most popular immersion time was only two and a half to five minutes long with many coaches setting a temperature of below 5 degrees Celsius and athletes having no set temperature target.

Dr. Robert Allan, Lecturer in Human Physiology at UCLan and lead author on the research paper, said: "Whilst many athletes, coaches and support practitioners are aware of the many physiological benefits associated with post-exercise CWI, such as reductions in tissue temperature, alterations in blood flow and pain relief benefits, there seems a discordance between the knowledge of the benefits and understanding of the mechanisms controlling them.

"The protocol used during cold-water immersion is important; with the temperature of water, duration and depth of immersion important variables to consider.

"Ultimately, short durations will be unable to illicit sufficient reductions to either core or muscle temperatures and have any subsequent impact on physiological mechanisms. In many cases, what is being used in practice will not be stimulating the benefits trying to be achieved."

The findings also highlighted differences between how athletes and coaches regulate CWI compared to support practitioners, such as physiotherapists and sports scientists and therapists.

"This analysis offers evidence to emphasize the importance of support practitioners implementing research informed practice in an elite setting" said Dr. Allan.

"Most support practitioners opted for water temperatures and immersion times that were more aligned to the recommended CWI guidelines than athletes or coaches. Feedback also suggests that support practitioners also have a much better understanding of not only what changes CWI induces, but also how and why these changes occur.

"This in no way devalues the role of the coach or the athlete, only serving to highlight the benefits a support practitioner can bring to a multi-dimensional team."

Dr. James Malone, Senior Lecturer in Coaching Science at Liverpool Hope University, was also involved in the study.

He said: "This study highlights some of the potential gaps that can occur between what the science is telling us and what actually happens in practice. Obviously in the lab we are able to control things much more tightly compared to out in the applied setting, but our data suggests that coaches and athletes may not be fully educated on what best practice protocols to use for cold water immersion.

"Myself and Dr. Allan are part of a five-person team currently producing an expert statement on the use of cooling therapies for exercise recovery on behalf of the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES). We believe that this work will help to better educate the wider audience around the best use of cooling therapies, such as cold-water immersion, to help narrow the gap between research and practice."

The study, "Athlete, coach and practitioner knowledge and perceptions of post-exercise cold-water immersion for recovery: a qualitative and quantitative exploration," was published in Sports Sciences for Health.

Explore further

Cryotherapy versus ice baths—it's a draw

More information: Robert Allan et al, Athlete, coach and practitioner knowledge and perceptions of post-exercise cold-water immersion for recovery: a qualitative and quantitative exploration, Sport Sciences for Health

(2021). DOI: 10.1007/s11332-021-00839-3

Provided by University of Central Lancashire


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Health/Medicine; Science; Sports
KEYWORDS: cryotherapy; icebaths; sportsmedicine
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last

1 posted on 10/19/2021 7:38:43 AM PDT by Red Badger
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

🥶🥶🥶


2 posted on 10/19/2021 7:40:03 AM PDT by SaveFerris (The Lord, The Christ and The Messiah: Jesus Christ of Nazareth - http://www.BiblicalJesusChrist.Com/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Ah, the universal “XYZ - You’re Doing It ALL Wrong” article.


3 posted on 10/19/2021 7:41:19 AM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“Everything Woke turns to shit.” ~ President Donald Trump)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
unable to illicit sufficient reductions

The photo of the nekkid guy was a little TMI for me, but I wouldn't go so far as "illicit."

And I always appreciate an academic who can spell "elicit" when the need comes up. Is it too much to ask?

4 posted on 10/19/2021 7:44:24 AM PDT by SamuraiScot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

how come they didn’t outline what you SHOULD do??


5 posted on 10/19/2021 7:50:53 AM PDT by spacejunkie2001
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

Doing it wrong?

I’m not doing it at all!


6 posted on 10/19/2021 7:54:21 AM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger

7 posted on 10/19/2021 7:54:57 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (China is like the Third Reich. We are Mussolini's Italy. A weaker, Jr partner, good at losing wars.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SamuraiScot

The Spell-Checker Poem
More than an exercise in homophonous humor, “Candidate for a Pullet Surprise” endures as a cautionary tale for all those who place too much trust in spell checkers.

Candidate for a Pullet Surprise

by Mark Eckman and Jerrold H. Zar

I have a spelling checker,
It came with my PC.
It plane lee marks four my revue
Miss steaks aye can knot sea.
Eye ran this poem threw it,
Your sure reel glad two no.
Its vary polished in it’s weigh.
My checker tolled me sew.

A checker is a bless sing,
It freeze yew lodes of thyme.
It helps me right awl stiles two reed,
And aides me when eye rime.

Each frays come posed up on my screen
Eye trussed too bee a joule.
The checker pours o’er every word
To cheque sum spelling rule.

Bee fore a veiling checker’s
Hour spelling mite decline,
And if we’re lacks oar have a laps,
We wood bee maid too wine.

Butt now bee cause my spelling
Is checked with such grate flare,
Their are know fault’s with in my cite,
Of nun eye am a wear.

Now spelling does knot phase me,
It does knot bring a tier.
My pay purrs awl due glad den
With wrapped word’s fare as hear.

To rite with care is quite a feet
Of witch won should bee proud,
And wee mussed dew the best wee can,
Sew flaw’s are knot aloud.

Sow ewe can sea why aye dew prays
Such soft wear four pea seas,
And why eye brake in two averse
Buy righting want too pleas.


8 posted on 10/19/2021 7:56:57 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: spacejunkie2001
the recommended range of 9 to 15 degrees Celsius and only 14 percent spent the recommended duration of 10 to 15 minutes in the water.
9 posted on 10/19/2021 7:58:25 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: SamuraiScot

nekkid guy?

What nekkid guy?........................


10 posted on 10/19/2021 7:59:52 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: DuncanWaring
... I’m not doing it at all!

Ditto. I'm getting the chills just thinking about it.

11 posted on 10/19/2021 8:16:49 AM PDT by gloryblaze
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: SaveFerris
Ice baths? LOL. As if  

12 posted on 10/19/2021 8:17:37 AM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie (LORD, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
What nekkid guy?.

There was a photo of a guy, seen from the top, in one of those tiny therapy bathtubs, and yes--he was nekkid, fortunately with no major details visible.

Maybe on your settings, these valuable images don't come through.

13 posted on 10/19/2021 8:31:31 AM PDT by SamuraiScot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: SamuraiScot

He has black trunks on....................


14 posted on 10/19/2021 8:34:32 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Governor Dinwiddie; DuncanWaring

Professional Athletes use ice baths all the time.......................


15 posted on 10/19/2021 8:35:46 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
I'm sure professionals do use ice baths. I was speaking for myself. I mean "as if" I myself would take an ice bath. No way!

16 posted on 10/19/2021 8:39:51 AM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie (LORD, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
The pome about the Spell-Cheka was a little frightening.

Is it like a secret police unit that investigates your spelling?

17 posted on 10/19/2021 8:41:13 AM PDT by SamuraiScot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Governor Dinwiddie

It ain’t as bad as it sounds, especially if you are in pain................................


18 posted on 10/19/2021 8:41:26 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: SamuraiScot

Some computers and tablets have it built in and on by default.

You have to turn it off in the settings................


19 posted on 10/19/2021 8:42:38 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: Red Badger
No ice baths for this kid.

Cold packs ok and I have a cool water pump for major injuries but jumping into ice water?

No.

20 posted on 10/19/2021 8:43:02 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (add a dab of lavender in milk, leave town with an orange and pretend you're laughing with it)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson