Cold vs Hot Shower after workouts?

akafful
akafful Posts: 69 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
How do they differ? And which is the most effective for any situation?

Does the temperature depend on the type/intensity of the workouts?

Replies

  • MonkeyMel21
    MonkeyMel21 Posts: 2,396 Member
    I'm not sure what effect you're thinking of or why showering has anything to do with what work out you do (other than helping you not stink)....but if I'm sweating a lot and have to get ready for work, I like to make sure the temp is on the cooler side, otherwise I just continue sweating even after I get out of the shower and it makes it hard to put my make up on.
  • z4oslo
    z4oslo Posts: 229 Member
    Pretty sure OP is thinking of contrast bath therapy to reduce recovery time after training.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrast_bath_therapy

  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    akafful wrote: »
    How do they differ? And which is the most effective for any situation?

    Does the temperature depend on the type/intensity of the workouts?

    What do you mean by "effective"?
  • MikePTY
    MikePTY Posts: 3,814 Member
    Just shower however makes you most comfortable. No need to make certain things more complicated than they need to be.
  • TheRoadDog
    TheRoadDog Posts: 11,788 Member
    z4oslo wrote: »
    Pretty sure OP is thinking of contrast bath therapy to reduce recovery time after training.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrast_bath_therapy

    Shower won't get the same affect. Need total immersion for Hydrotherapy. For best results go from cold to hot and then back again. Great for circulation. Always start with cold and always end with cold.
  • lx1x
    lx1x Posts: 38,330 Member
    MikePTY wrote: »
    Just shower however makes you most comfortable. No need to make certain things more complicated than they need to be.

    This

    Showering is just to get the funk out (sweat.. dirt etc.)..

    Unless it's recommended by a professional/doctor that you take certain temp shower.
  • mbaker566
    mbaker566 Posts: 11,233 Member
    long run-hot shower
    going someplace afterwards-cold shower
    otherwise warmish shower
  • apullum
    apullum Posts: 4,838 Member
    I take a cool or lukewarm shower if it was warm outside on my run and I need to cool off.

    I take a hot shower if it was cold outside and I need to warm up.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,204 Member
    I took a warmish shower post-rescue with my clothes on after capsizing a rowing shell one time in April in Michigan (no major hypothermia symptoms so it was OK to warm quickly).

    Other than that sort of thing, I don't think it affects recovery enough to matter for the recreational athlete (and immersion is what the elites use IMU).
  • tirowow12385
    tirowow12385 Posts: 697 Member
    Cold gym and locker room so I take a hot shower.
  • jnomadica
    jnomadica Posts: 280 Member
    I live for my post-workout hot shower!
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    akafful wrote: »
    How do they differ? And which is the most effective for any situation?

    Does the temperature depend on the type/intensity of the workouts?

    What do you mean by "effective"...it's just a shower.

    I take cold showers in the summer after I ride because it's 100* + outside and I will be dripping with sweat for hours if I don't bring my body temperature down with a cold shower...

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