Strength Source

Contrasting showers

Hot and cold showers. Contrasting showers. Hydrotherapy. Call it what you want, the principle is the same. It's a shower that alternates between hot and cold water.

The basic method is:

• Hot water:  1-3 minutes
• Cold water: 1 minute

You will want to use water that is as hot and cold as possible. A more ideal method would be to alternate more rapidly between hot and cold water. You may even want to try a 30 second hot and 30 second cold cycle. You will need to do this for 5-10 minutes.

Apart from boosting your immune system, this type of shower is commonly known to reduce lactic acid in your muscles, thereby reducing muscle soreness. This type of shower will also help improve your blood circulation, which we all know is important to recovery.

Using this method in addition to your proper training and diet, you may notice significant improvement in your recovering abilities.

So, after you've come home from your intense training session, hockey game, or if you've done the magic 50, jump into the shower and try a contrasting shower. You may feel great afterwards.

In addition to the aforementioned benefits, listed below are additional benefits to a hot and cold shower:

• Stimulates the circulatory system
• Helps detox the body of toxins
• Makes your skin look great
• Energizes you and improves your mood

There you have it, a simple yet effective way to help reduce your recovery time.

As with anything, please be sure to consult your physician before starting a dramatic program, such as contrasting showers.