Run for Fun: What you need to know about cold plunges
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — In this week’s episode of Run for Fun, we take a look at a chilly way to recover from hard runs and intense exercise. Cryotherapy and cold plunges have become more popular recently.
Athletes enter a cryotherapy chamber and endure frigid temperatures to help ease muscle soreness and inflammation. The Cleveland Clinic explains this occurs because the cold constricts blood vessels and sends blood away from that part of the body.
While runners and other athletes have used ice baths to help ease pain for many years, the process has now become so popular many people have purchased their own ice bath for their homes.
Leigh Spann and Coach Maria sit down with Dr. Michael Heim to discuss the benefits of cold therapy. They discuss who is a good candidate to use the cold therapy and what precautions need to be taken.
They look at why cold therapy is helpful for runners both physically and mentally. Some people claim that spending extended time in the ice bath helps them focus or use mental meditation to withstand the cold.
These recovery methods can help you feel better quicker, so your muscles are ready to take on the next run. For more ways to make running more enjoyable, be sure to watch or listen to previous episodes of Run for Fun.
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