This is a side story of the post “Exercise as Part of Your Travel Plans.”
After the great run in Savannah, a bonus treat was a hot tub at the hotel (I love hot tubs!). They also had a (cold) swimming pool next to it, so I dipped myself up to the
waist cooling the legs and hips until they got slightly numb. And then, I soaked into the hot tub and
massaged the calves, thighs and feet.
I repeated 4 times. Although my calf had already been sore for a few days, that
was gone, and other areas of the legs didn’t get sore next day either.
This is a type of hydrotherapy called a Contrast Bath alternating between hot and cold. It is more beneficial and powerful than a heat application only. I already emphasized the benefits of
heat in the post “Moist Heat Packs,” but the
primary effects of cold are:
- Reduces inflammation by vasoconstriction
- Relieves pain (Analgesic/Anesthetic)
- Relaxes contracted muscles by decreasing the nerve and muscle response
- As the secondary effect, reverses the initial responses to return to the body’s normal, uniform, internal stability (homeostasis)
With the alternate hot and cold application, cold constricts
the blood vessels, and the blood draws away (vasoconstriction), while heat helps expand the blood vessels, and
new, fresh blood draws in (vasodilation). This
repetitive motion acts as a pump to promote great increase in circulation and
relieve congestion. If you
apply it to the whole body, it benefits
respiration and metabolism as well as circulation. Because of the benefit of the
homeostatic response (warming up to the usual body temperature), it is best to
finish with the cold application.
I now mainly use this hot and cold therapy as preventative maintenance for my hands
and forearms; putting my hands into ice water and warm water alternately. For anybody who works with their hands
and fingers, it is highly recommended to
avoid injuries.