The term ice baths, also known as cryotherapy, conjures up images of needless submersion in cold water but ice baths have more benefits than one might imagine. If you’re an avid weight lifter, athlete or you’re recovering from an injury, then cryotherapy is a great remedy to help you reduce pain and soreness, prevent injury and heal faster.

The term ice baths, also known as cryotherapy, conjures up images of needless submersion in cold water but ice baths have more benefits than one might imagine. If you’re an avid weight lifter, athlete or you’re recovering from an injury, then cryotherapy is a great remedy to help you reduce pain and soreness, prevent injury and heal faster.

What is an Ice Bath?

An ice bath is just what its name indicates, although, when a person uses them, their whole body is typically not submerged. More often than not, it involves a specific body part being submerged in cold water; however, your whole body may be underwater if the pain involves a larger area. One of the main reasons for utilizing one would be because it helps your muscles tremendously in the healing process by reducing swelling.

4 Reasons to Use an Ice Bath

1. Reduce Pain: Athletes, avid exercisers and everyday people can benefit from this therapy. Submersion in the ice cold water has a positive impact on pain levels. In fact, professional athletes can often be found taking post-game baths in icy water.

2. Prevent Injury: Another clear advantage is that they prevent injuries. Some experts recommend their use post-workout to help prevent future injuries. The cold bath increases your blood flow and it is this increased circulation that helps body tissues recover faster, preventing injury.

3. Speed Healing: It is also highly recommended to use cryotherapy frequently as you are healing from an injury. Long-term muscle damage is always a serious concern for the amateur and professional alike.

4. To Reduce Swelling: The abrupt coldness of the bath helps reduce swelling and inflammation. This therapy may be just one part of your recovery process in an injury, but it can be a very important part.

History of Ice Baths

Believe it or not, cryotherapy isn’t new to society. Louis Sugarman brought the concept to America from his native Russia in the 1880’s. Thankfully, the research is much more concise and scientific today. Modern athletes know precisely what temperature the water should be and how long to stay submerged.

Not Just for Athletes

Some people have the misunderstanding that cryotherapy is just for athletes and this is not true. Almost anyone can benefit from cold baths, for the right reasons. Teens and older children who are active in sports, band or other physical activities can benefit if they’ve experienced a tough workout or long practices. Runners, weightlifters and weekend warriors can often be found using them to help reduce the soreness and inflammation. The more you use a sore muscle without treating it, the worse you’re likely to feel down the road. That’s why many athletes, doctors and cryotherapy users agree that the benefits of these baths are so great.

A Summary of Why Ice Baths Make Sense

In a day and age where prescription medications abound, the idea of natural healing appeals to many people. These therapeutic baths can reduce both your pain and swelling after an intense workout or long distance run. They are also frequently used to prevent injury as well as speed up the healing process for existing injuries. Cold therapy is scientifically proven to aid in the healing process, as uncomfortable as it may be. In fact, people all over the world are using cryotherapy because it makes the most sense. From a bag of ice applied to sore knees after a run to a doctor-supervised soak in an ice bath, cold really can work wonders.