5 Ice Bath Benefits For Runners

Post-exercise ice baths, or cold water immersion, is a popular recovery and injury-prevention modality in athletic training and sports rehab.

Even though the evidence demonstrating the efficacy of post-workout ice baths on recovery has been inconclusive, many elite and professional runners swear by their chilly soak.

Curious to see if ice baths may be a missing piece of your running recovery and performance?

First thing first, an ice bath is a form of cryotherapy (cold therapy). It involves soaking the legs, hips, and lower back in a tub of very cold water or ice water after a workout to reduce inflammation and soreness.

Do Ice Baths Really Work?

There have been conflicting results from studies investigating the efficacy of ice baths on muscle recovery. Some studies have shown significant decreases in muscle soreness and inflammatory markers, while others have not. Similarly, some studies have shown performance benefits whereas others have not.

Other studies have concluded that ice baths may be an effective recovery modality, but no more so than active recovery options like light jogging.

Here’s the studies I found:

1. Don't Lose Your Cool With Cryotherapy: The Application of Phase Change Material for Prolonged Cooling in Athletic Recovery and Beyond;
2. The effects of cold water immersion and active recovery on inflammation and cell stress responses in human skeletal muscle after resistance exercise;
3. Adaptations to Post-exercise Cold Water Immersion: Friend, Foe, or Futile?

5 Ice Bath Benefits

There are several potential ice bath benefits for runners:

1. Ice Baths May Reduce Muscle Soreness

Sore after a race, long run, or hard workout? The primary purpose of ice baths is to reduce muscle soreness and many studies have indeed demonstrated that ice baths can reduce soreness after exercise.

The cold exposure causes the blood vessels in your submerged legs and hips to constrict. When you get out of the ice bath, these blood vessels dilate rapidly, flushing out the metabolic waste products that can cause delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and increase nutritive blood flow.

2. Ice Baths May Reduce Inflammation

The cryotherapy and hydrostatic pressure of water against your legs in an ice bath can reduce inflammation after a run.

3. Ice Baths May Reduce Post-Workout Fatigue

The decrease in DOMS and other recovery-promoting benefits of ice baths can reduce fatigue after your run so that you bounce back faster for the next workout.

4. Ice Baths May Improve Sleep

There is some evidence to suggest that cold water immersion therapy may improve sleep. However, it’s important to note that results were most favorable when the entire body was submerged, including the athlete’s head.

This benefit is thought to be largely due to the effect of the ice bath on the central nervous system.

5. Ice Baths May Increase Mental Toughness

Perhaps the most uncontested of the ice bath benefits is the mental toughness you can develop by forcing yourself to get in and endure the wildly uncomfortable soak.

Running takes grit, determination, and perseverance, and many elite athletes say that training yourself to endure an ice bath translates to your toughness as an athlete.

When you dip your toe into an ice bath, everything in your head screams, “I can’t get in that!” – However, if you work up the nerve and get in, the initial intense discomfort quickly wanes as you become numb.

Much like staring down a difficult and daunting workout or race, you find that your mind can try to talk you out of things you can absolutely do.

How Long Should You Stay In

Water freezes at 0 degrees C and 32 degrees F. Most rehabilitation specialists say an ice bath should be about 10-15 degrees °C or 50-60 degrees °F.

The answer to how long should an ice bath be is what generally pulls us away from the idea. The general consensus from the literature is that the ideal length of an ice bath is 10-15 minutes.

This maximizes the cryotherapy benefits of cold water immersion without inducing excessive stress or putting tissues at risk of frostbite or the body at risk of hypothermia.

If you are new to ice baths, start with 5 minutes and gradually work your way up to a maximum of 15 minutes.

What To Do After An Ice Bath

After an ice bath, carefully get out, towel off completely, and put on warm, dry clothes. Note that your feet may be numb, so you should move around carefully and deliberately so that you don’t fall.

If you are really cold, you might consider taking a warm shower and drinking hot beverages. Be careful with the temperature of your shower water as your skin may not be able to properly detect how hot the water is.

Are Ice Baths Dangerous?

Ice baths are generally considered safe for most runners with a few notable precautions:

Extended cold exposure can lead to frostbite or hypothermia.

Do NOT stay in the ice bath longer than 15 minutes.

If you suffer from circulation issues or have peripheral neuropathy, do NOT take an ice bath without consulting your healthcare provider first.

If you are pregnant, have diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, low blood pressure, or POTS, ice baths may not be safe.

In each case, it’s always a good idea consult your healthcare provider prior to trying the cold therapy.

How to Do An Ice Bath At Home

Unless you have access to an athletic training room, chances are you’ll have to fashion an ice bath at home. You’ll need a bathtub or a very large container like a child-sized swimming pool.

Fill the tub with cold water and ice. Most experts recommend a water-to-ice ratio of 3:1.

Unless you only want to soak your lower legs, fill the tub as high as possible, leaving room to accommodate the water your body will displace when you get it.

Wait about 10 minutes to allow the water to chill. If you have a thermometer, you’re striving for 10-15 degrees °C or 50-60 degrees °F.

Take a deep breath and get in and soak for 5-15 minutes.

You want learn more about the ice bath? You should get and read the Wim Hof Method.

Conclusion

While the benefits of post-exercise ice baths are debated, many runners find them helpful for reducing muscle soreness, inflammation, and fatigue, and for improving mental toughness. Soak in water at 10-15°C (50-60°F) for 10-15 minutes for optimal results.

Always be cautious of potential risks and consult a healthcare provider if you have any health conditions. Understanding ice baths can enhance your recovery routine.

‍

‍