Hydrotherapy for Post-Workout Recovery

[OneWheyOrAnother]

Hey guys, my gym has a hot tub, steam room, sauna and swimming pool.....

And I have been seeing athletes on TV jumping into ice baths which supposedly draws the blood away from your limbs and into your vital organs because your body thinks it's freezing, which in turn draws the waste with it away from the muscles. Then after about 3 minutes or so, they get into a hot tub which brings new fresh nutrient rich blood to your muscles. Supposedly this helps with the healing process quite a bit. Alot of rehabilitation places use this for injuries and such.

I was wondering what everyone else's thoughts were on this and if anybody practiced this as well.

 

[P-funk]

yup. works well. you just wont be able to get cold enough water with just a swimming pool.

if it is a localized area, like the elbow or ankle, you can set up three buckets of water (hot, cold and room temperature) and cycle through them. You just need a timer (to time yourself) and 2 thermometers to place in the hot and cold buckets to ensure that the water is at the proper temperature....and a lot of ice to make sure you can get the cold water temperature down enough.


patrick

 

[OneWheyOrAnother]

yup. works well. you just wont be able to get cold enough water with just a swimming pool.

if it is a localized area, like the elbow or ankle, you can set up three buckets of water (hot, cold and room temperature) and cycle through them. You just need a timer (to time yourself) and 2 thermometers to place in the hot and cold buckets to ensure that the water is at the proper temperature....and a lot of ice to make sure you can get the cold water temperature down enough.


patrick

How quickly after the gym should I do this?? ZIs there a time limit before it becomes less effective??

 

[GOtriSports]

yup. works well. you just wont be able to get cold enough water with just a swimming pool.

if it is a localized area, like the elbow or ankle, you can set up three buckets of water (hot, cold and room temperature) and cycle through them. You just need a timer (to time yourself) and 2 thermometers to place in the hot and cold buckets to ensure that the water is at the proper temperature....and a lot of ice to make sure you can get the cold water temperature down enough.


patrick

This is probably a dumb question, but does this require water or can it just be temperature based while walking outside.

For example:
I leave my gym and walk home (takes about 5 minutes) and the temperature outside is usually between 35-45 degrees right now. I always have HIGH heat on in my apartment, now sure of the exact temp but it is WARM. Any chance that this might have some kind of effect or is it just wishful thinking on my part??? =)

 

[P-funk]

This is probably a dumb question, but does this require water or can it just be temperature based while walking outside.

For example:
I leave my gym and walk home (takes about 5 minutes) and the temperature outside is usually between 35-45 degrees right now. I always have HIGH heat on in my apartment, now sure of the exact temp but it is WARM. Any chance that this might have some kind of effect or is it just wishful thinking on my part??? =)

don't know? I think the whole idea is that the water is contacting the skin and creating changes in the tissue. not sure if you can do it with just temperature.

 

[P-funk]

How quickly after the gym should I do this?? ZIs there a time limit before it becomes less effective??

I have done it right after a workout before. I have done it later in the day. I have done it the next day.