ICE BATH THERAPY
Improves mental health
A small study found that taking a 20-minute ice bath 4 days a week improved quality of life. They had better joint mobility and less stress, anxiety and depression. Scientists think that exposing your body to cold water triggers a stress response and activates the nervous system. These changes can improve your mood and help you adapt to stress over time.
Aids exercise recovery
When you get out of an ice bath, your blood vessels dilate, or re-open, increasing circulation. The nutrient-rich blood flow to your muscles may help remove metabolic waste that builds up during exercise. That’s another reason people use ice baths for post-workout recovery.
Reduces inflammation and swelling
When you take an ice bath, the cold temperature narrows your blood vessels. This decreases blood flow to your muscles, which may reduce inflammation and swelling. The research suggests that the cold-therapy technique lowers post exercise inflammation.
Relieves sore muscles
Stepping into a cold bath might help relieve sore muscles, lower inflammation and slower nerve signalling which could mean less pain. Cold water could also lower your perception of pain or how much soreness you feel.
That explains why a systemic review found that ice baths reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness after exercise.
Evidence suggests that ice baths may also ease pain from chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, gout and fibromyalgia.
People with high blood pressure or heart disease should consult your health practitioner before adding ice bath therapy as part of your recovery treatment.
ICE BATHS
Neuroscientists at Stanford and Harvard have found that taking ice baths increases dopamine by 250% throughout the day, and people with ADHD have a natural deficiency of dopamine. The body will feel a buzz of energy.
You can expect to feel a shock in the ice bath but be prepared to be shocked when you have the ability to focus for hours on end.
Set a timer for 30 seconds (start small, but increase the time as you get used to it), and you will find that you have more natural energy throughout the day than ever before.
COMPRESSION BOOT THERAPY
There have been multiple research studies investigating the benefits of compression therapy and in particular compression boots on health, wellbeing and performance.
-
Improve circulation
-
Enhance lymphatic drainage
-
Remove waste products including lactic acid
-
Improve range of movement and flexibility
-
Decrease recovery time
-
Allow you to train harder quicker
-
Relax and unwind
-
Increase flexibility and joint range of motion
Compression therapy involves applying targeted and controlled pressure to a muscle region to enhance blood flow. By increasing blood flow to specific parts of the body, more oxygen and nutrients are delivered to those areas. This speeds up recovery, relieves pain and improves athletic performance.
