Triathlon - Cold Soaks ???
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Read a blurb about taking cold saoks after tough workouts in the recent Runners World. I was just curious if any of you have tried to this technique to eliminate or minimize injuries, swelling, tendinitus, etc?
The article mentions soaking in 50-55 degree water for a minimum of 12 minutes. I'm guessing that's pretty much straight cold water out of the spicket???
Usually a bit colder. I used to do it more when I had a college trainer with a training room to set up the tub. Its nice and a lot of athletes swear by it after hard days but its nothing I miss too much myself.
H2OChick
08-02-05, 06:49 PM
I've never done that, but sometimes I actually fantasize about icing - when I'm tired and hurting a bit it just sounds good. But the water out of the tap here is probably in the 70s and I don't have the means to get water that cold... But please, let us know if you try and how it goes!
^*^BATMAN^*^
08-03-05, 07:25 AM
I have tried it once, i dont really know if it worked anybetter then say soaking in hot water with epson salts.
The cold water is in theory supposed to force your blood to retract away from the surface of your skin(and muscles), allowing fresh, non contaminated blood back in.
The hot water with epson salts, kinda does the opposit, draws blood to the surface of the skin, while the epson salts draws the impurities out of the blood through your skin.
I use an ice gel bag after long runs. A couple of minutes on each part of my legs works great.
RoadToad
08-03-05, 09:15 AM
Yeah, you're going to definitely add some ice to tap water to get it that cold. Haven't tried it yet, but have heard many good things about it...
Sounds cold...
racergirl
08-19-05, 09:54 PM
I tried soaking in cold water after my last race (3/4IM). I waded into the swim course (52deg) and found it to be pretty helpful. At least I didn't feel my legs anymore. I think it does help because I'm far less sore/damaged from this race than I was from the 1/2M I qualified at.
I make a point of soaking in epsom salts whenever possible. Esp after one of those track workouts where you hobble off the track already sore...Stuff of miracles.
p9morbid
08-23-05, 03:56 PM
I ran XC and track in college and our trainers made us do cold soaks. My memory says it was MUCH colder than 55 degrees, but I guess 55 degrees is pretty cold. They had it all ready for us with ice/water, all we had to do was hop in. If you have the opportunity I would highly recommend it if you're really injury prone.