Cold Plunge
Cold Plunge
During an ice bath session, the cold water causes your blood vessels to slowly narrow, following by pushing blood to your organs to collect oxygen and nutrients. When you emerge from the cold water, your blood vessels expand again which signals to your brain to send oxygen – and nutrient – rich blood to your tissues.
The drastic change in temperature is shocks to the system, so your brain sends a signal to the body that it’s under (safe) stress and needs to respond accordingly.
Health Benefits
Exercise Recovery
Ice bath session are excellent recovery tool as part of your exercise routine. Research has shown that the cold water can reduce muscle soreness, DOMS, muscle injury and improve muscle power and perceived recovery after exercise. Constrict blood vessels and flush water products, lactic acid, out of the affected tissues.
Mental Health
Cold water immersion may improve your mental health, especially those suffering depressive symptoms. It may also elevate the mood in young, fit, and healthy individuals as exposing your body to cold water triggers a stress response and activates the nervous system.
Inflammation
Taking an ice bath can be effective in reducing inflammation as research has demonstrated that the cold temperature narrows your blood vessels which decreases blood flow to your muscles.
