EP 605: Ice Baths - Are They The Key to Improved Health?

Trail Runner Nation

Fitness, Sports, Running, Health & Fitness

4.5 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 5 January 2023

⏱️ 67 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today we are discussing the age-old question: are ice baths good for your health? It is a topic that has divided fitness enthusiasts and athletes for years, with some claiming that ice baths can help reduce muscle soreness and inflammation, while others argue that they can be harmful to the body.

First, let us define what an ice bath is. An ice bath is a recovery method in which a person immerses their body in a tub of cold water and ice for a brief period, usually 10-15 minutes. The water temperature is typically around 50-59 degrees Fahrenheit.

Now, let us dive into the potential benefits of ice baths. Some proponents of ice baths argue that the cold water can help reduce inflammation and muscle soreness after a workout. This is because cold water can constrict blood vessels, which can help reduce swelling and inflammation. In addition, cold water can numb nerve endings, which can provide temporary pain relief.

However, it is important to note that the research on the effectiveness of ice baths is mixed.

We decided to find out what the research has to say. Alex Hutchinson has written about the research multiple times and he joins The Nation to review the research and give us his opinion.

Alex mentioned the book The Sweet Spot: The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning

Here are some of his articles:

Follow Alex on Twitter
Check out Sweat Science
Alex'e MUST READ Book, Endure: Mind, Body and the Curiously Elastic Limits of Human Performance

Transcript

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0:00.0	And so for icepads, icepads are extremely unpleasant in a way that is actually very pleasant
0:08.0	for some people.
0:09.0	It's just like running, right?
0:10.9	There's something fun about the suffering, and certainly it's one of those things I
0:15.1	think, like many other things that athletes do, that kind of signals to others and also
0:20.3	to ourselves how committed we are.
0:21.9	It's like, I must be a serious runner because look how much I'm willing to suffer.
0:26.7	Welcome to the trailhead of trail runner nation, where we're going to go on a virtual trail
0:43.0	run today with Alex Hutchinson.
0:45.7	He's going to help us become better runners, learn a little bit about running, how to recover,
0:51.1	and hopefully become better human beings.
0:53.0	If it's your first time, we welcome you here.
0:56.1	This trail is open to all.
0:59.0	So slide on into the Konga line, and by the end of this podcast or the end of this run,
1:04.8	we're going to all decide whether we should jump in an ice bath or not.
1:11.3	Scott, you know that I'm an earbud fanatic.
1:14.0	I mean, if they're out there, I've tried them, and I probably have some in my drawer.
1:18.8	You know, whether it's music, podcasts, audio books, it seems like we're always listening
1:24.0	to something.
1:25.2	And we want to tell you about Raycon, their everyday earbuds look, feel, and sound better
1:30.8	than ever.
1:31.8	They have this customizable gel tip that has perfect in your fit.
	...

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