What is Cold Plunge Therapy?

Cold-water immersion stimulates blood flow. When you immerse your body in a cold plunge, the blood rushes to surround your vital organs. Your heart is then forced to pump more efficiently, pushing blood through all your vessels and supplying every part of your body with the oxygen and nutrients needed.

Top 5 Cold Plunge Therapy Benefits

  • Increases energy levels

  • Triggers hormesis and improves resilience

    In many ways, your body adapts to frigid temperatures similarly to how it adapts to intense workouts: it’s uncomfortable initially, but as your body adapts, it becomes stronger.

    It took me about four or five cold plunges until 39-degree water no longer felt terrible. As a result, I’ve been increasing the duration of my cold plunges, and my sensitivity to cold temperatures has decreased (even outside the tub).

  • Speeds up physical recovery

    When you jump into ice-cold water, your central nervous system causes the blood vessels in your extremities to constrict to force the warm blood to your vital organs. As a result, circulation in your arms and legs gets temporarily restricted.

    However, once you get out of the cold water, your blood vessels dilate, thus triggering increased blood flow to the muscle tissue in your extremities and skin.

  • Boosts your mood

    In addition to that psychological boost, there’s also a biological aspect to cold plunging mood-altering benefits: the process triggers the release of endorphins and other neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine.

  • Improves sleep

Post plunge you’ll feel refreshed, rejuvenated and revived.

FAQs

It reduces blood flow to a particular area, significantly reducing inflammation and swelling that causes pain, especially around a joint or a tendon. It can temporarily reduce nerve activity, which can also relieve pain.

  • Pain management: cold plunge therapy reduces pain by desensitizing nerves and reducing swelling.

  • Inflammation: Inflammation occurs at specific sites within the body, for example, an injury, or can be systemic. Cold therapy reduces localized inflammation from exercise.

  • Depression and Anxiety: Cold therapy can help alleviate depression and anxiety. Research indicates that people with depressive symptoms typically have inflammation.

  • Mood and Brain Function: Cold therapy activates hormonal responses in healthy people as well as those suffering from chronic diseases such as depression, fibromyalgia, and more.

  • Heart Rate Variability: Heart Rate Variability is an indicator of physical and psychological stress. Cold therapy reduces stress and improves exercise recovery times as shown by improved heart rate variability.

  • Vasoconstriction: Cold therapy initiates vasoconstriction of blood vessels in the skin and extremities, which aids in reducing muscle pain, fatigue, and swelling.