Cold plunge/Ice bath…

[Cooclaret]

Now I’ve experienced lots of ‘recovery’ techniques over the years but never done this one and never for ‘fun’…

Listened to Wim Hof on DOAC recently and mentioned it to my wife, who’s keen to do it and we start tomorrow.

Anyone else do this? Any advice?

[IanMcL]

Wear thermals

[Burnley1989]

Now I’ve experienced lots of ‘recovery’ techniques over the years but never done this one and never for ‘fun’…

Listened to Wim Hof on DOAC recently and mentioned it to my wife, who’s keen to do it and we start tomorrow.

Anyone else do this? Any advice?

I've tried cold showers, I'm just too soft though.

Never tried a plunge bath but would like to give it a go. I've 16 weeks training for a fitness event when I get back from my holidays, so I have considered getting one of the inflatable ice baths for recovery.

[beddie]

My son has one outside connected up to a motor. I don’t know a lot about them but I know he uses his a lot, certainly after every squash, gym or run session, he says it makes a big difference to muscle strains etc and an aching body. He even uses it in winter. Good luck tomorrow.

[Lord_Bob]

Seems that ice baths are very common among elite athletes / teams. I've started taking a cold bath after workouts / sports, I don't have enough ice for a full on ice bath. Seems to help recovery.

Slightly off topic, I don't get the "freezing chambers" that the lads seem to be using in Spain. I would have thought an ice bath is more efficient, less dangerous and a hell of a lot cheaper.

[Quickenthetempo]

If your muscles are aching, they are craving more protein.

[jdrobbo]

When I run (3-4 times a week), I often cold shower. It’s fine once you get used to it. Start warm, turn down incrementally to cold. So much better for the head in the hours that follow; it’s remarkable.

[Poulton-le-Claret]

When I was running a lot, I would regularly sit in a cold bath for about 15 mins after. Horrendous getting in, but not too bad shortly after and my legs always felt miles better for it.

[Cooclaret]

Eleven minutes a week is the sweet spot apparently…

Three minutes is the aim tomorrow

[CoolClaret]

Have you tried a contrast shower?

I find them to be better in all honesty - alternate between as cold as you can handle/the shower will go and then as hot as you can handle/the shower will go every 30-60 seconds or so and focus the water on specific muscles at a time.

You get vasoconstriction with the cold water and vasodilation with the hot water and can really see/feel the blood flushing through your muscles.
Instantly helps with circulation and inflammation - i've found them to be really effective in aiding recovery.

[Anonymous Claret]

Now I’ve experienced lots of ‘recovery’ techniques over the years but never done this one and never for ‘fun’…

Listened to Wim Hof on DOAC recently and mentioned it to my wife, who’s keen to do it and we start tomorrow.

Anyone else do this? Any advice?

I did a few ice showers but never the ice bath. A friend of mine used to do them all the time and he would also add large ice packs

I used to do the Wim Hof breathing exercises daily but just do daily meditations instead at the moment.

Let us know how you get along

[claret2018]

They’re great! Horrible at first but you genuinely feel amazing afterwards

[gawthorpe_view]

If your muscles are aching, they are craving more protein.

And oxygen?

[bfcjg]

The only effect they have on me is to make my meat and 2 veg disappear.

[Quickenthetempo]

And oxygen?

You get that naturally.

Your body generally craves things it needs, like salts etc..
As soon as I learnt about your muscles craving protein and had plenty before and after exercise, I don't do much aching at all.
I used to ache for days, despite hot baths.

[Fretters]

I started having cold showers last year and, not only did I save water and time (as I was in there for much less time than usual), I felt great and much more awake afterwards. Not sure why I stopped tbh and I might get back on them tomorrow.

Good luck!

[dsr]

I started having cold showers last year and, not only did I save water and time (as I was in there for much less time than usual), I felt great and much more awake afterwards. Not sure why I stopped tbh and I might get back on them tomorrow.

Good luck!

Was it that bout of double pneumonia?

[Wile E Coyote]

BBC did a programme with doctor who worked with our military, he was THE go to man for all things cold.
His conclusion was that as an aid to healthier living , it was useless. The benefits are just not measurable.
a meagre positive effect for about a minute, then it just dissipates to nothingness.

[Jakubclaret]

Sod all that malarkey for a game of soldiers.

[Suratclaret]

Cold showers as advocated by the late Dr Michael Mosley are particularly good for T2 diabetics…apparently they boost the immune system.

[Bigvince]

My wife keeps suggesting I have a cold shower, don’t know why!p

[claretskeith]

Had ice baths for around 20 minutes and you feel amazing afterwards. That looks to be the only benefit though.

What I'd like to do are the cryotherapy chambers.

[Fretters]

Was it that bout of double pneumonia?

That was it!!

[AfloatinClaret]

My concern with taking an Ice bath would be that initial jolt of cold making me drop my beer can, though the shower option would be even worse... That'd extinguish my cigarette for sure.

[Darthlaw]

Now I’ve experienced lots of ‘recovery’ techniques over the years but never done this one and never for ‘fun’…

Listened to Wim Hof on DOAC recently and mentioned it to my wife, who’s keen to do it and we start tomorrow.

Anyone else do this? Any advice?

I’ve got one and use it 3/4 times per week. Biggest thing I found it helped me with was my sleep, strangely enough. I’d had issues for years with poor sleep. within a week of doing cold plunges I was sleeping much better and continue to do so,

Basically you need to build up. I do around 9 minutes per time at 7-9 degrees. Bearing in mind tap water is usually about 11, it doesn’t take much ice to get it down. Definitely use Wim Hof’s breathing techniques and once you’re in commit! It usually hurts for the first 90 seconds then when you warm up it feels amazing!

Best of luck!

[Hipper]

Didn't Steve Cotterill introduce ice bath for the players.

There were also those people that liked a swim on Christmas Day in The Serpentine (Hyde Park, London), when it used to freeze over.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLGQXKifTIU

[mdd2]

I though Graham Alexander was a proponent of this technique

[Steve1956]

Wild swimming is very popular up here in Scotland been really tempted to give it a try the benefits of cold water swimming are immense....but it looks bloody cold when the temperature is minus 3 on a cold January morning.

[pompeyclaret]

Can't remember the stats but Paris put in a silly large order for ice (for ice baths), soo much that no one could supply it.

No medical evidence to support it being good for you, but clearly loads of people do it and report benefits

[Cooclaret]

So we’re many days into this and it’s horrible.

Converted an IBC for the size for us both and my wife and I have been in for three minutes everyday.

She’s loving it, and is straight in bashing out the minutes. I need a moment at first…

I put that down to being a man…

[beddie]

So we’re many days into this and it’s horrible.

Converted an IBC for the size for us both and my wife and I have been in for three minutes everyday.

She’s loving it, and is straight in bashing out the minutes. I need a moment at first…

I put that down to being a man…

Well done for even doing it. I can never understand how my son comes back from his squash or running session and jumps straight into the ice cold tub, even if it’s freezing at the time outside. Hope you continue to be brave.

[AdventurousSleep]

It’s known to reduce inflammation, improve mood, increase energy, and aid recovery from soreness or injury. Starting slow and gradually building tolerance is key. https://bananomad.com/health-and-fitnes ... -benefits/

[Taffy on the wing]

Seems that ice baths are very common among elite athletes / teams. I've started taking a cold bath after workouts / sports, I don't have enough ice for a full on ice bath. Seems to help recovery.

Slightly off topic, I don't get the "freezing chambers" that the lads seem to be using in Spain. I would have thought an ice bath is more efficient, less dangerous and a hell of a lot cheaper.

I did the Cryo chamber a few yrs ago.......after it was over i felt terrible & went to bed, when i got up i was ******* blood.......don't recommend!
Younger people don't seem to have a problem though.

[Tribesmen]

Goodness , I recall when I was hiking In the mountains in Northern Pakistan and had a ice wash which the best way to put it .
Never forgot it I think death would have been better . Never again......

[aggi]

I though Graham Alexander was a proponent of this technique

I have memories of Alexander in a wheelie bin full of ice water. Think we've moved on a bit since then.

[ClaretinJapan]

Bathing is part of the culture here. The gym has a spa too. After, I usually do 10 minutes in the sauna, followed by a rinse off under a cold shower and into a cold, not ice, bath. Then into a hottish jet bath. Feels great!