Simply put, contrast therapy involves going from hot to cold (or from cold to hot). It can be taking a shower with warm or cold water, going from soaking in a tub with cold water to another heated environment with air conditioning, etc.
But why should you go through this "torture"? Because this type of therapy has a number of health benefits on your overall well-being.
"Contrast therapy can stimulate the body's natural healing ability by responding to sudden changes (hot/cold) from constricting blood vessels to dilating them to improve circulation," says Dr. Dawn Rene Johnson.
Because of the physiological response to extreme temperature changes, studies show that this type of therapy can help reduce muscle pain and completely relax the body.
While the word stress can be an alarm indicator, the type of micro stress you experience when you go from cold water to hot water can be positive. This is called "hormesis" or "hormetic stress," which is a process that simply relaxes the cells.
In addition, "contrast therapy" affects your energy levels. An analysis published in the "Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research" in 2017 found that taking a contrast shower helps athletes recover from fatigue after training or sporting events faster than immersion in cold water alone (48 hours vs. 72, respectively) hours).
Are there side effects?
This therapy may not be suitable for everyone. Any person who may have problems with hypertension, arrhythmia or hidden diabetes, this therapy should be consulted with doctors before practicing it.
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Source: Pop Sugar
