Immersing yourself in cold water has many pain-relieving benefits. Thanks to the rise in demand by health influencers, celebrities, trainers, and athletes, there is a push to discover all that cold water therapy can do.

But you may be wondering—what is the science behind cold therapy? Are all of the claims true, and does it help with a bad back? In this article, you will learn how cold water therapy works and how to use ice baths for back pain.

Back pain is something many of us experience at some point in our lives, and it can happen to anyone at any time. For instance, while using your laptop on your bed feels comfortable at the moment, it is often followed by uncomfortable consequences. 

This debilitating health issue is a common reason why millions of people miss work. In fact, research shows that more than 60 million Americans have experienced a recent episode of back pain, and about 16 million adults struggle with chronic or persistent back pain.  

But cold water therapy can help with that back pain, and we will show you how.

What is Cold Water Immersion Therapy?

Cold water immersion therapy isn’t a new discovery. In fact, it is among the earliest medical treatments. The Edwin Smith Papyrus (3500 BC), an ancient Egyptian medical book, mentioned cold water therapy in its text.

However, cold therapy fell out of use until rediscovered in the late 1980s. Today, cryotherapy methods, such as cold water immersion therapy, have become commonplace, and many people practice them without realizing it.

Using ice to prevent swelling is something almost everyone has done or has advised someone to do. That said, cold water therapy through ice baths applies the same logic but on a larger scale.

But even as researchers put more time and resources into studying cold therapy, it is still clear that many of its benefits remain untapped or undiscovered.

Ice Baths for Back Pain: How and Why it Works 

Once you start experiencing back pain, things can quickly become very uncomfortable. Sadly, back pain is common, but there are many ways you can treat it. Using ice baths for back pain can offer more than a surface-level treatment. It helps with pain, swelling, and muscle spasms by lowering your body’s temperature.

To fully understand what cold water therapy does to your back pain, you must first understand its many benefits.

Fights Inflammation

Exposing your body to frigid temperatures for a few minutes increases the amount of adiponectin in your system. Adiponectin is a protein that helps the body combat inflammation. A study conducted to prove the validity of this theory showed that exercising in the cold reduces the inflammatory response when compared to exercising in a regular environment.

Reduces Pain

For years, cold water therapy has served as a pain reliever. Often, using ice baths has been a better remedy for pain when compared to other alternatives. And it’s even used in the military. 

Military personnel face some of the most challenging tasks during training and in active service. Clint Emerson, a retired Navy SEAL with twenty years of service with the Special Operations community, explains how SEALs perform several training exercises in cold water, and there is science in that. He says that spending time in cold water helps with the pain in their joints. 

Reduces muscle soreness

Cold water immersion therapy can help with muscle soreness. Several studies indicate that soaking in cold water baths can help with post-workout soreness. For example, a study involving cyclists in 2011 found that those who participated in cryotherapy had decreased soreness after intense training sessions. Another study in 2016 supported this conclusion.

Using Ice Barrel for Back Pain Relief

 As the core temperature drops, blood vessels in the body constrict. This happens because the body reduces blood flow and sends more blood to vital organs. Initiating this reaction in a controlled environment will produce the same result, which is what we want.

If you want to use ice baths for back pain or any other benefits, you first need a fully immersive system like the Ice Barrel. It is not only easy to use but also fun and convenient.  

As a first-timer, you should prepare your body by taking progressively colder baths. You can fill your Ice Barrel with regular tap water and slowly pour in ice until you reach the desired temperature. Try not to push too hard until you’ve become accustomed to the frigid temperatures.

It is recommended not to exceed 10 minutes per soak. With extreme temperatures, staying too long can cause hypothermia, which then counteracts the positive benefits of lowering the body temperature slightly. If possible, always have another person in the room to help you out of the barrel and for safety reasons, especially if you’re still getting used to cold water therapy.

We strongly advise that you go through our FAQ before trying out cold baths with an Ice Barrel.

Are You Ready to Try Ice Baths for Back Pain? 

Back pain is a common health condition resulting from muscle strain, sleep disorders, uncoordinated movements, and bad posture. If you’re struggling with a bad back, then you should consider trying cold therapy, as it has proven to be quite useful in dealing with it.

Are you ready to start using cold therapy for back pain? Order your Ice Barrel today or contact us if you have any questions.