Hey everyone,
I was just wondering what the whole deal with ice baths is...I know some types of athletes--gymnasts for one will sit in bathtubs filled with ice and ice water after a workout, especially when they're getting back in shape--but what is the actual rationale?
I'm just curious because while we are building up our yardage and getting back into swimming shape I am feeling the burn because I am also speedskating 1-2 times a week, just started lifting again and I take a spinning class 2 times a week. In other words, at the moment, my body is really holding together pretty well, but I can definitely feel the difference in the water--I've slowed down considerably but I would imagine that is just a temporary set back because my body is busy repairing and re toning and re tuning.
Thanks!
Oh and completly off the subject of my question but there's a freshman on my team who is a very good swimmer, but she's working so hard and pushing herself to such a point of high stress on her body that I just feel for her, because she has bad shoulders and I completely understand that desire to really go out in practice and impress the new coach and teammates and stuff--I was exactly the same when I came to school or changed teams, but it's the 1st real week of practice--last 2 weeks have been under 3000yards all drill work and slow sets, and she's already icing 2x a day and has been since last week. I just hope she doesn't rip something because bottom line is sometimes when you do have shoulder issues you just need to back off a bit and concentrate more on form and legs instead of being the hero at practice, thats more or less why I have been so busy with extra curricular athletics because I know I can't go out there and swim meet pace every practice and still have shoulders to speak of.
Parents
Former Member
Hot, cold, hot, cold, hot cold, the treatment for athletic injury for years.
This may have been what people did, but this is not always true because it depends on the injury. For an ankle sprain/break, the hot/cold is terrific because it promotes circulation. For shoulder injuries, it's ice, never heat, because ice reduces swelling. Heat is more used for soft tissue problems; joints need ice, sprains need both.
I do want to mention something here about jacuzzis and hot tubs/spas. A good friend of mine is a doctor here in Texas and she is against these things if a person has been in cooler water. The temperature change causes a tremendous rise in blood pressure very quickly, so if a person already has blood pressure elevations, it could be harmful.
Personally, I'm an ice kind of person. My shoulder gets sore every week or so, and a little ice eliminates the soreness. Love those bags of frozen vegetables!
Hot, cold, hot, cold, hot cold, the treatment for athletic injury for years.
This may have been what people did, but this is not always true because it depends on the injury. For an ankle sprain/break, the hot/cold is terrific because it promotes circulation. For shoulder injuries, it's ice, never heat, because ice reduces swelling. Heat is more used for soft tissue problems; joints need ice, sprains need both.
I do want to mention something here about jacuzzis and hot tubs/spas. A good friend of mine is a doctor here in Texas and she is against these things if a person has been in cooler water. The temperature change causes a tremendous rise in blood pressure very quickly, so if a person already has blood pressure elevations, it could be harmful.
Personally, I'm an ice kind of person. My shoulder gets sore every week or so, and a little ice eliminates the soreness. Love those bags of frozen vegetables!
