Contrast Showers

Radiation · 6 May 2011 at 14:39

It's basically where you alternate between hot and cold water every few minutes while showering, supposedly has positive health effects but it certainly makes you feel good afterwards.

When the water is really cold it can be unpleasant but it seems worth it, though it might not be a good idea to try if you have any health issues.

So who here has tried it and what do you think?

I've tested it a few times and found it feels nearly as good just by simply ending on a cold shower, making sure to put my face under as well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrast_showers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mammalian_diving_reflex

ChroniC · 6 May 2011 at 14:45

Interesting concept. I have tried to stay under a cold shower, but its very uncomfortable to the skin, how cold are we talking? As much as you can bare?

Wyrdo · 6 May 2011 at 14:46

My shower does this without me having to do anything

Hot, cold, hot, cold - bloody annoying!

OriginalJonty · 6 May 2011 at 14:46

My old shower used to do that anyway. It was always a gamble of what temperature you would get.

Radiation · 6 May 2011 at 14:48

ChroniC said:
Interesting concept. I have tried to stay under a cold shower, but its very uncomfortable to the skin, how cold are we talking? As much as you can bare?

I think so yeah, obviously not dangerously cold like when its winter, just turn it down to the point where it starts to feel uncomfortable and go from there if you can take it!

ChroniC · 6 May 2011 at 14:49

Radiation said:
I think so yeah, obviously not dangerously cold like when its winter, just turn it down to the point where it starts to feel uncomfortable and go from there if you can take it!

So why does that make you feel nice? I couldn't see why from the wiki's

Participant · 6 May 2011 at 14:51

Wyrdo said:
My shower does this without me having to do anything

Hot, cold, hot, cold - bloody annoying!

That's normally unbalanced inlet pressures, often excessive cold pressure.

Radiation · 6 May 2011 at 14:52

ChroniC said:
So why does that make you feel nice? I couldn't see why from the wiki's

Im not sure why but i guess it's a bit like after sex or exercise, it just gives you a really good feeling in your body, you're also more alert.

arknor · 6 May 2011 at 14:52

my shower goes from hot > red hot everytime someone turns the cold tap on in the kitchen...

FNGsam · 6 May 2011 at 14:54

I do this always ending on cold if I go to the gym in the mornings. But the reason I do this is because I always felt the cold would stop me sweating so I wouldn't sweat all over my work shirt after I put it on

platypus · 6 May 2011 at 14:56

I use contrast showers as part of my post running recovery, it's incredibly helpful for sore and tired muscles.

FNGsam · 6 May 2011 at 15:08

platypus said:
I use contrast showers as part of my post running recovery, it's incredibly helpful for sore and tired muscles.

also I do this too. Feels so much better having a cold/hot shower after cardio.

Westyfield2 · 6 May 2011 at 15:09

That's what I was told you're meant to do at the Sauna:

Cold Shower -> Sauna -> Cold Shower -> More Sauna -> Cold Shower.

AGD · 6 May 2011 at 15:18

What has it got to do with the mammalian dive reflex? :confused:

kwerk · 6 May 2011 at 15:20

They used to give the prisoners at Alcatraz steaming hot showers so they would be deconditioned to cold water and die if they tried to swim across to the mainland.

h00fzilla · 6 May 2011 at 15:21

Hot/cold/hot/cold possibly stimulates circulation? Dilation/contraction of capillaries perhaps. Don't know for sure.

arknor · 6 May 2011 at 15:23

kwerk said:
They used to give the prisoners at Alcatraz steaming hot showers so they would be deconditioned to cold water and die if they tried to swim across to the mainland.

wasnt it suposed to be an impossible swim anyway because of the current?

Heliospherez · 6 May 2011 at 15:26

I think it was the British Journal of Sports medicine that published results on trials a few years back that found contrast therapy (cold / hot bath immersion) actually made muscle pains worse the following day. I would need to look it up though.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/jul/10/uknews.sciencenews

Oynas · 6 May 2011 at 15:28

Aren't cold showers (no alternating) supposed to have some health benefits as well, something to do with circulation? The only time I can have a cold shower is at the end of a hot day - in the morning I just cannot stomach it.

Hitman_Leon · 6 May 2011 at 15:29

Sounds like self torture to me.

Contrast Showers

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