Cold water therapy can cause more harm than good

2023-05-13 12:25:00, Shëndeti CNA

Cold water therapy can cause more harm than good

Illustrative photo

Cold water diving is definitely an activity that divides people. Some love it, others hate it. But many people now practice it weekly or even daily, believing it to be good for their mental and physical health. Cold water therapy can take the form of swimming in nature - in lakes, rivers or the sea - cold showers, or even ice cube baths.

It has been used and is used by athletes as a way to reduce muscle soreness and speed up recovery time from injuries. They usually stay for about 10 minutes after training in cold water with temperatures of 10-15 °C.

Also, cold water has been used to help treat symptoms of depression, pain and migraines. In fact, there are many stories of how cold water therapy has changed the lives of many people, how it has improved their cardiovascular system or even people in difficult times.

While many studies have shown the benefits associated with ice baths and post-workout recovery, a 2014 study found that there may be a placebo effect here. So immersion in cold water can have potentially harmful effects on the human body.

Cold water therapy can cause more harm than good

At present, scientific evidence is not available to fully support cold water as a therapy. Furthermore, it is not yet known whether there is a certain duration or temperature that works better than others. But what we do know is that spending less time in cold water is definitely a safe way to avoid harming yourself.

It seems that when it comes to cold water therapy, showers and baths are a less risky option because you have more control over temperature and exposure time compared to outdoor water. But because of the colder temperatures, ice showers and baths still pose significant risks.

One of the lesser known problems associated with cold water immersion is what is known as non-freezing cold injury. When we're exposed to the cold, it's normal for our hands and feet to feel very cold or numb, and they may tingle or be painful when rewarming.

For most people, these symptoms are transient, with normal sensations going away within minutes. But for those with various injuries, these symptoms (pain, altered sensation and sensitivity to cold) can persist in the affected areas for many years due to nerve and blood vessel damage.

Meanwhile there is also a lot of variation in how our individual bodies react to the cold. For example, those of African and Caribbean descent appear to be more susceptible to cold injury without frostbite.

Cold water therapy can cause more harm than good

So the risks of exposure to the cold will vary between different people. However, a 2020 study of cold-water swimmers showed that although they may have sensitivity to cold, this was not associated with damage to blood vessels in the skin.

So, if you want to undergo cold water therapy, here are the things you should keep in mind:

Consult your doctor first to make sure it is safe for you.

Make sure you are not alone and that the water is safe, especially when entering a river, lake or sea, where tides, currents and waves, underwater obstacles, etc. must be taken into account.

Plan how you will get in and out of the water safely (remember that your muscles won't work as well when you're cold and you may not be able to feel with your hands and feet).

Make sure you have towels, dry, windproof clothes, a warm drink and a place to shelter. Do not boat or ride a bike until you are fully warmed up. Stay in the cold water only for a short period of time, get out before you experience numbness, pain or shivering./ Translated and translated by CNA.al