Contrast shower - Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by TXiKiBoT (talk | contribs) at 01:54, 13 January 2009 (robot Adding: es:Ducha alternante de agua caliente y fría). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Contrast shower" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (July 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

Contrast showers are showers that alternate between hot and cold water.

Some believe that this is a method of detoxing, improving the circulatory system and the immune system. It is also used as a method for recovery after strenuous exercise, such as rugby, football or bodybuilding. Whilst it may be believed that contrast showers reduce the levels of lactic acid in muscles, thereby reducing or avoiding muscle soreness, the scientific evidence is to the contrary.

Contrast showers are also occasionally used in hazing, initiation rituals and to self-inflict pain.

Various cycles can be used, usually ending with a cold cycle. Some sources suggest an increase in the temperature difference over the cycles.

References

DOMS at Sports Injury Bulletin
R. Robergs, F. Ghiasvand, D. Parker (2004). "Biochemistry of exercise-induced metabolic acidosis". Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 287 (3): R502–16. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00114.2004. PMID 15308499.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

This medical treatment–related article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it.