Comments on: Cold showers

By: children entertainer

children entertainer — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:26:37 +0000

I grow up having cold showers in Brazil but now living in Ireland I find impossible come back to the old time. My shower time is getting worst, because is nearing boiling water.

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By: Satvari

Satvari — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:51:12 +0000

Great post!

All these positive feedback is encouraging me to give it a try.

A couple of questions:
Is it necessary to take more than one cold shower throughout the day to feel the full benefits, or is one cold shower in the morning enough?

How long should the cold shower be for a beginner?

How long should it be when one has adapted to the coldest water temp?

By: Nathan

Nathan — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:47:17 +0000

Todd, thanks for the thorough reply. Indeed, the cold showers are invigorating and, the more I get used to them, enjoyable. My objective is to undertake a regimen of one in the morning and a second before by workout in the afternoon.
Thanks again for all the great information.

By: Todd

Todd — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:20:09 +0000

Hi Nathan,

I’m glad to hear you’ve found the benefits of making cold showers a daily habit, as opposed to an occasional refresher. Daily exposure to cold water fosters a long term adaptive response.

While cold showers are no doubt useful as a post-workout “cool down”, which helps to reduce possible inflammation, I think the effect of starting out with a cold shower is different. Starting with a cold shower when you are not already warm tends to induce so-called “shivering thermogenesis” (as opposed to non-shivering thermogenensis). This generates internal body heat, which is useful in your pre-exercise warm up. And if you take cold showers routinely, your hypothalamic control of body temperature is improved, so you learn to heat up more quickly and efficiently.

The other “paradox” that athletic trainers understand is that cold treatment is typically more effective and fast-acting than warm treatment in reducing inflammation and injury. (Adding warmth later on can provide other benefits associated with enhanced circulation). So your pre-workout cold shower probably protects you to some extent against pulling a muscle.

Todd

By: Nathan

Nathan — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 13:59:59 +0000

Todd,
Thank you for the excellent article and comments. I was taking cold showers only occasionally in the past, primarily when I needed a good wake up, but for the last month they have become part of my daily routine and I love it. I see significant change for the better in my body and mind.
I have read the questions and your responses on cold showering after exercising. However, what I very much like doing is take a 5-10 min cold shower before starting my exercise routine. This invigorates me and the exercise warms me up nicely afterwards. Your thoughts?
Nathan

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:45:27 +0000

I’m quite into jogging and about a month ago started taking cold showers. Usually when I jog I get to about about 7 miles, hit the “the wall” and go home. However, after taking cold showers for a month I have found I am able to breakthrough “the wall” and have increased my longest run to 11 miles. Whether this is purely down to the cold showers, I don’t know, but it sure has helped!

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By: Oliver

Oliver — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 09:48:21 +0000

Okay, I have only one concern with cold water therapy that I havent had resolved and that is: is it okay/good for the joints?

By: Troy

Troy — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 03:50:30 +0000

Just one word Elliott. Patience.