During the London TV coverage, we saw plenty of Olympians in ice baths for once reason or another.
But some are now questioning the risk / reward for taking the plunge:
Elite athletes are wasting their time by plunging into icy water after intense exercise and may even be putting their health at risk, according to new research.
Scientists at the University of Portsmouth have found cold water immersion is no more and no less effective in helping an athlete recover after sport than light cool-down exercise.
They also warn the practice of plunging into ice baths, common among elite athletes such as the marathon runner Paula Radcliffe and the England rugby team, might do more harm than good. …
Bathing in ice after intense exercise ‘does not work’, says new report
A quick look at that research and a few other sport science articles on the topic leads me to believe the headline overstates. There’s simply not enough research yet to determine risks / benefits conclusively.
Leave a comment if you are convinced not to ice for recovery.
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