Tired and sore muscles are nothing new to seasoned athletes. The aches and stiffness form part of the entire process. For regular folks, these muscle aches can creep in, too. Being able to manage the pain is vital for excellent performance and ease of mobility. Ice bath therapy is a valuable technique to help manage and improve the healing of sore muscles.

Why Do Your Muscles Hurt?

When required to run for an extended period or perform a new exercise that your muscles aren’t used to, DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) is likely to occur. DOMS is not necessarily bad as it’s an indication that you are conditioning the muscles. But the pain and stiffness associated with DOMS means it will be harder to hit your next workout as hard or make you uncomfortable at the office. There are ways to help manage delayed sore muscles and, best of all, speed up healing.

Juggling your weekly job along with your love of competitive sports is challenging. Some may even think of it as a love-hate relationship. Going from sedentary office work to active workouts or a round of golf over the weekend can take its toll on your back and muscles. Cold therapy is your solution. Ice baths will help treat your back pain issues and soothe the rest of your mind and body.

Ice Bath Therapy Works for Inflammation

While ice baths are familiar to runners and athletes, it is a valuable treatment for everyone looking to free their bodies from muscle aches. Cold baths help to reduce inflammation rapidly, even inflammation linked to arthritis.

When the swelling subsides, the pain levels decrease as well. It makes sense why marathon runners and athletes use cold therapy as a staple in their recovery process.

7 Benefits of Ice Bath Therapy

When you begin your journey with cold therapy, it’s essential to move at your own pace. If you are a beginner, then you may find the treatment a bit overwhelming and intimidating. The more you learn and engage in ice bath therapy, the more you’ll enjoy the benefits of boosting your mood, improving heart and blood circulation, and less inflammation.

1. Ice bath therapy is easy to introduce into your lifestyle

You don’t have to be a pro athlete to reap the benefits of cold baths. If you are new to this venture, you can start by taking cold showers in the morning. It’s invigorating and can help you relax and feel rejuvenated at the same time so you’re ready to tackle the day. 

2. Your mental health and mood improves with cold water treatment

There are a lot of pharmaceutical drugs dedicated to mental wellness. Cold water immersion therapy is 100% drug-free and natural. Unlike antidepressants and other drugs for mental conditions, ice baths can help to reduce depression, stress, and anxiety because it directly targets the nervous system.  Whether you take cold swims or cold water baths, the low temperatures can lower stress levels and feelings of depression.

Stress factors occur in people all the time. Sometimes stress triggers are health-related, and other times it could be general stress like work or family problems. Studies show that whole-body cryotherapy helps reduce mental health deterioration.

3. Cold therapy improves immune response

When it comes to our immune systems, we best care to ensure that it stays strong and healthy. The immune system is one of the body’s most important lines of defense. 

Cold bath therapy can help to create an improved immune response.

4. The cold plunge helps manage chronic pain conditions

Arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other rheumatoid disorders can be debilitating when not managed properly. Treatment often includes strong pain medication such as opioids and NSAIDs, and sometimes in severe situations, surgery is required.

There is scientific evidence that cold therapy can significantly reduce the inflammatory response and the symptoms associated with rheumatoid diseases. Before attempting any form of cold water immersion, check with your health provider whether you may proceed.

5. Cold baths can stimulate the vagus nerve

The vagus nerve is one of the longest nerves in the body and comprises about 75% of the parasympathetic nervous system. It is responsible for many things like digestive function, heart rate, reflexes, and mood changes. Holotropic breathwork and cold exposure can be combined to help positively change a person’s mood, improve healing, and contribute to vagus nerve stimulation. Cold baths can improve the quality of life.

6. Cold therapy could reduce the risk of dementia

Dementia is a degenerative mental condition that leads to memory loss. The process can take place over several years or be more aggressive. While the mechanics of how cold therapy works to slow loss of memory, studies indicate that inflammation may be one of the causal factors.

7. Cold therapy can help with weight loss

Weight loss is essential when looking to manage health conditions like diabetes or obesity. White fat is responsible for energy conservation. Brown fat, on the other hand, has a role in keeping the body warm including when exposed to frigid temperatures. Cold thermogenesis and brown fat contribute to weight management.

Start Your Ice Bath Therapy With Ice Barrel

If you’re still wondering if ice baths are good for you, then you can plunge into the fundamentals of ice bath therapy. The advantages of cold water therapy are clear, and you’re probably wondering where to buy an ice bath? Ice Barrel is one of the leading retailers of quality ice baths that you can use in the comfort of your home. It is affordable, durable, less bulky than other alternatives, and made with 100% recycled material.