Shower after work out

[Barfo]

I love showering with scalding hot water, but I remember reading somewhere, a long time ago, that cold water is good for the muscles after working out, in a way I can't remember.
Can anyone confirm this? I'll give up the hot water if necessary but I need to know if it's true first.

 

[Redfraggle]

Hm. Good question. I can see the benefits of either. Hot will relax stored tension, cool will reduce inflammation perhaps. Maybe alternate?

I do know super hot is not good for you for many reasons. Beyond your circulatory system, it really dries out your skin.

 

[polarmystery]

I think if you cycle hot and cold there is some benefit that speeds recovery but I don't know why. There are some that cycle hot and cold in 1 or 2 minutes variations

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: polarmystery
I think if you cycle hot and cold there is some benefit that speeds recovery but I don't know why. There are some that cycle hot and cold in 1 or 2 minutes variations

The constriction and dilation of the blood vessels causes a pump-like motion to help purge negative metabolites that are still present from working out. It helps with soreness and recovery because it reduces inflammation and removes some of the products that hinder protein synthesis and cell function.

 

[presidentender]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: polarmystery
I think if you cycle hot and cold there is some benefit that speeds recovery but I don't know why. There are some that cycle hot and cold in 1 or 2 minutes variations

The constriction and dilation of the blood vessels causes a pump-like motion to help purge negative metabolites that are still present from working out. It helps with soreness and recovery because it reduces inflammation and removes some of the products that hinder protein synthesis and cell function.

If you sauna before showering, a cold shower is even more helpful. The constriction of dilated blood vessels also helps lower your blood pressure and increase venous diameter in general (by causing an immediate spike in bp when you step into a cold shower: picture a balloon after it's been inflated and then had the air let out).

 

[polarmystery]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: polarmystery
I think if you cycle hot and cold there is some benefit that speeds recovery but I don't know why. There are some that cycle hot and cold in 1 or 2 minutes variations

The constriction and dilation of the blood vessels causes a pump-like motion to help purge negative metabolites that are still present from working out. It helps with soreness and recovery because it reduces inflammation and removes some of the products that hinder protein synthesis and cell function.

I feel like my heart stops when I turn the water cold from hot :Q

 

[RagingBITCH]

I get ridiculously hot and sweaty after a workout (weights or running) - I normally take as cold of a shower as I can stand (except when it's cold) and still have to sit down under a fan for another 5-10 minutes. It's been like that for years.

That's different than what's being asked. At least after my past two marathons - I've always soaked in an ice bath post-race. (I've never felt particularly sore or stiff after the race, maybe just some minor muscle aches a day or two after, then feel fine)

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: presidentender
If you sauna before showering, a cold shower is even more helpful. The constriction of dilated blood vessels also helps lower your blood pressure and increase venous diameter in general (by causing an immediate spike in bp when you step into a cold shower: picture a balloon after it's been inflated and then had the air let out).

Does that actually help? It sounds like that would be too much heat saturation to go straight to cold with. It cold could quite possibly be a great shock to the system due to the extent of the warmth. Also, the oscillation of hot to cold is better than just one big transition because of the pumping motion. I don't think this would quite do the same thing and I probably wouldn't advise it.

Originally posted by: polarmystery
I feel like my heart stops when I turn the water cold from hot :Q

You gotta ease into it a bit. I always go from medium hot to low cold (warmer) and I always start on my back. If I do it on my chest, then I lose all my breath instantly. The next time I do it, I go to medium hot and then as cold as my shower will go. I repeat that twice or somethin. I end on slightly warm just so I'm not freezing when I get out of the shower.

 

[presidentender]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: presidentender
If you sauna before showering, a cold shower is even more helpful. The constriction of dilated blood vessels also helps lower your blood pressure and increase venous diameter in general (by causing an immediate spike in bp when you step into a cold shower: picture a balloon after it's been inflated and then had the air let out).

Does that actually help? It sounds like that would be too much heat saturation to go straight to cold with. It cold could quite possibly be a great shock to the system due to the extent of the warmth. Also, the oscillation of hot to cold is better than just one big transition because of the pumping motion. I don't think this would quite do the same thing and I probably wouldn't advise it.

Wikipedia, even. It's certainly not a good idea if you're prone to heart attack, and it's uncomfortable until you get used to it. You can also go back and forth between the sauna and the shower. It's just a more extreme version of what you're talking about with the back-and-forth between hot water and cold.

 

[polarmystery]

Originally posted by: SociallyChallenged

Originally posted by: presidentender
If you sauna before showering, a cold shower is even more helpful. The constriction of dilated blood vessels also helps lower your blood pressure and increase venous diameter in general (by causing an immediate spike in bp when you step into a cold shower: picture a balloon after it's been inflated and then had the air let out).

Does that actually help? It sounds like that would be too much heat saturation to go straight to cold with. It cold could quite possibly be a great shock to the system due to the extent of the warmth. Also, the oscillation of hot to cold is better than just one big transition because of the pumping motion. I don't think this would quite do the same thing and I probably wouldn't advise it.

Originally posted by: polarmystery
I feel like my heart stops when I turn the water cold from hot :Q

You gotta ease into it a bit. I always go from medium hot to low cold (warmer) and I always start on my back. If I do it on my chest, then I lose all my breath instantly. The next time I do it, I go to medium hot and then as cold as my shower will go. I repeat that twice or somethin. I end on slightly warm just so I'm not freezing when I get out of the shower.

So I did this last night after my leg workout and I felt 1000x more sore than I was normally used to. I had to climb down a few flights of stairs after I took a shower to grab something at the store and my legs felt like hamburger after the hot/cold thing. They don't feel so bad this morning though...

 

[SonnyDaze]

I've always used warm showers. It would seem that cold water would cause the muscles to contract and tighten up (causing soreness?) where as warm/hot water would allow them to remain relaxed.

 

[Titan]

From a skin health perspective, I hear it's good to turn the shower to cold at the end to close your pores and keep them from getting crap in there. I am too much of a woos it do it though, cold water in VT is too cold.

Also, I run the hot on my lower back for a bit relaxing my kidney and releasing extra pee. Like the old sleeping hand in hot water trick. I think it is a good cleanse, but have never heard of anyone doing that.

Too much information?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze
I've always used warm showers. It would seem that cold water would cause the muscles to contract and tighten up (causing soreness?) where as warm/hot water would allow them to remain relaxed.

It reduces general inflammation, which promotes diffusion of negative metabolites (ie things that make you sore) out of the cell and into the bloodstream to be processed by the kidneys. It's good essentially. Both hot and cold have their pro's and that's why I just decide to use both with a contrast shower.

 

[SonnyDaze]

Originally posted by: Titan
Also, I run the hot on my lower back for a bit relaxing my kidney and releasing extra pee.
Too much information?

Just make sure you pee on your feet to take care of the athlete's foot if you have any.

 

[MercenaryYoureFired]

I usually take colder showers after a long(er) run in the summer, only because I'm so hot that I need it to cool down. I do notice that after taking a cold shower my eyes turn really freaking white, almost TV commercial white, which is kinda nice I guess.

 

[polarmystery]

After a few weeks of trying this hot/cold shower method I can vouch that it has definitely helped speed up my recovery. I got used to the heart stopping cold after hot/warm water. It's helped me in the gym as well.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze

Originally posted by: Titan
Also, I run the hot on my lower back for a bit relaxing my kidney and releasing extra pee.
Too much information?

Just make sure you pee on your feet to take care of the athlete's foot if you have any.

I read this a while back and forgot to comment on it. Your bladder/urethral sphincter allows pee to be released, not your kidneys. You're not accelerating the process or increasing the amount of urine flow but a tiny amount by warming them up. It's a petty comment, but I thought you should be informed

And polarmystery - nice, glad to hear it has helped ya. It still didn't save me from the hell my power clean/burpee workout I did last week wrought on my muscles, lol.

 

[RadioHead84]

How quickly do you need to take a shower to make this cold/hot theory work? I often workout and don't take a shower until an hour later.