So I rode about 40 miles yesterday at 11:30. It was hot and windy, which made for a miserable time. At the end, the pool looked really good. Are there any ill effects from jumpping in a cold pool after a long hot workout?

not sure of the science behind it, but its common at a turkish/russian bath houses to sit in the steam room sauna and then hit the (COLD) plunge pool. I wish we had those things in texas. I can spend all day in them.

Shrinkage

00,

i did exactly this at a spa in vegas this weekend...i love those cold plunges

yeah, its weird b/c if you just hopped in that pool, it would be really cold, but for whatever reason after being in the sauna/steam room, it feels amazing.

i hit the turkish bath house last week in cape town. it was awesome. really miss the russian turkish one in NYC.

I don't see how the plunge is harmful. It should speed your body's cooling by increasing the heat transfer from the skin.

I've done all the time after runs... so I imagine it can't be worse after an easy bike ride.

^^ troll.

Basically a mild version of an ice bath, which should drop core body temp and decrease swelling. You are actually better of jumping in the pool than skipping it.

Where does the OP live? Because I don't think there is such a thing as a cold pool in Texas from about April to October.

No better way to fight inflamation than an ice bath! I take ice baths after tough work outs that I know are going to make me sore. It helps tremendously.

btw - i wouldn't do ice baths after every tough workout. save them for after races and such. the inflammation and soreness is due to micro tears in your muscles...you get stronger/faster by the muscles repairing and growing. if you constantly use ice baths, you could inhibit adaptation.

Aggie00, there is a Russian Banya in Carrollton. It is not the classiest place but they do have 2 saunas, a steam room, and a cold dunk pool.

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btw - i wouldn't do ice baths after every tough workout. save them for after races and such. the inflammation and soreness is due to micro tears in your muscles...you get stronger/faster by the muscles repairing and growing. if you constantly use ice baths, you could inhibit adaptation.

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Honest question, the ice baths don't repair the micro tears, but help reduce the inflamation and improve blood flow which help repair the micro tears right? If my understanding is correct, how could a daily ice bath reduce muscle building?

be careful, if you're severely overheated and don't know it, jumping into cold water could cause you're body to go into shock.

Very, very remote chance and you would have to extremely overheated (to the point where you wouldn't be able to have finished a workout anyway) to begin with, but it is possible

blaird - thanks, but i'm in austin, so that doesn't help. the russian baths are never classy places...haha.

mwp - the inflammation causes increased blood flow. its part of the recovery process. http://www.marksdailyapple.com/the-relationship-between-exercise-and-inflammation-and-what-it-means-for-your-workouts/#axzz1xi8EzfBO I'm not a doctor and don't have true formal training, so I could be wrong. However, that's the way I understand it and have been taught during certifications.

I love a good ice bath and use them during heavy training as well as after races. Great for recovery. Even better when coupled with an propper cool down session or active recovery session the following day.

I actually started them when I was playing rugby as post-game recovery. It works just as good for endurance training. I generaly do as OO said and just do it after races or very heavy workouts. However, I have the same question as mwp. I'll read OO's link and maybe learn something today!!

Thanks OO! Love Mark's Daily Apple. I also only use them after tough wods. I also avoid taking Ibuprofen becasue I agree a degree of inflamation is just part of getting stronger.

Perhaps that is the answer to my question, that once the inflamation reaches a certain level it starts to reduce blood flow thereby decreasing recovery?

Ice baths would help with recovery. The pool you were in was probably not in the 50s though.