contrasting showers

[Mako]

I've heard a few people talk about taking cold/hot contrasting showers as part of their training routine. I was wondering, in what way would this be benificial?

[n.neate]

Recovery purposes. Similiar to foam rollers and band stretching.
Only it is done immediately after training vs the next day like other recovery methods.

[Esteban]

According to the book Core Performance (excellent book, by the way), hot/cold contrasts (plunging) "force your blood to move fast, from your organs to your skin and back again. That's a good thing in and of itself, as is exercise. But when you do it immediately after a workout, you stimulate muscle recovery with hardly any effort. The cold therapy, in particular, decreases the natural postworkout inflammation in your muscles.". Plunging is a way to "increase blood flow and promote muscle recovery".

[freeloader]

From my experience, I just feel better after taking a contrast shower. I am skeptical of the "blood flow" reasoning because I do not think that localized blood flow to the skin affects the blood flow to the muscles. Some have indicated that contrast showers work on the CNS through some mechanism. In the end, just give them a shot (especially after a good strength-based workout, as opposed to a volume-base workout). If you like 'em, keep 'em. If not, nothing lost but a few minutes under cold water.

[Genius]

Originally posted by Mako:
I've heard a few people talk about taking cold/hot contrasting showers as part of their training routine. I was wondering, in what way would this be benificial?

Only if the water is hot enough to sizzle your skin. If you feel your skin tissue burning, and can smell the "burning flesh" smell, then you have elevated the water to the correct heat level.