ice therapy

[athlete]

I know this isn't the best forum to post this...

I've been lying down in the snow on my back and covering my abs/chest/shoulders with snow (wearing pants).

This has aided muscle recovery and soreness. Especially inflamation in my shoulders, which made me stop exercising for a decade.

However, some parts of my body are beginning to feel bruised afterwards. I don't feel weak or sore... it just feels bruised when I touch the area. I'm thinking now it's the skin, not the muscle.

I guess the snow is just too cold for my skin?

I can't justify 70gallons a day for cold water and ice so I need to make this snow bath work. I can afford it, I just feel it is wasteful or inefficient and takes a million times more to prepare.

comments? (preferably no stupid stoner comments)

 

[Stukid]

It is recommended ice and stretching as the best way to recover post work out. As we exercise, muscles tend to swell. Proper stretching immediately afterwards then icing down will reduce inflammation.
Not a doc, but I try to do this. I bet the snow bath feels good after a workout! Its the theory behind Swedish sauna!

 

[Hammer17]

The bruised feeling at touch, if definitely not from any other activity, is most likely deeper wounds coming to the surface. Imagine an old knotted up peice of muscle and flesh being pulled apart. No matter how gently the infused fibres are separated (stretching and cold therapy are not just best way, also the most gentle too) as they heal and regenerate they will naturally be tender.

Not sure how long you have a) been working out again for, b) how knotted your muscles got, or c) how many times you have snow bathed.
However I would treat your recovery program the same way I assume you would train. Never give up, no pain no gain and with the wisdom that your mind will try to cheat or give up before the body has to.
Stick at it, put in the hard yards, control the mind, push the body and let your spirit do the real intricate work, the miracle of healing, and let the result you desire appear like magic.
One day waking up realizing your problem no longer exists.

Hope this might be helpful

 

[athlete]

Thanks guys - I'll keep at it!

Hammer17,
Your reasoning makes sense... the areas I feel the pain when touching were maybe exercised more than others.

Based on the prints in the snow in my backyard, I've done this 9 times givertake so I must have started a couple weeks ago. The pain I noticed 3 days ago? About the time I started chest with weights. And my lower back was strained slightly riding in the snow with poor posture. Math adds up ; )

Today, I went out with just wool socks and boxer briefs. Definitely the way to go!
I don't record how long I stay out there because time seem irrelevant. I eventually start to shiver, then I shiver uncontrollably, then I'm calm for 5-10 seconds, shiver, calm, shiver, calm, ect. I always stand outside for some time before I go inside. The wind feels so cold but at that point I'm numb.

Once I stepped inside the house, it took me 18 minutes to stop shivering uncontrollably (no calm periods). I don't like having my muscles that tight and moving when I'm cold so I think I hate that part the most now.

But DAMN I feel great! I have a wonderful tingly feeling inside me all over hahaha

 

[ҖҗlegilizeitҗҖ]

Essentially you are doing a crude cryotherapy.
Google that and see if there are any near by you.
They have chambers you stand in, so only your head sticks out. The chamber then fills with nitrogen gas, brining it down to -270f. You stand in there for 2-3 minutes at a time

 

[shroomhaze]

Essentially you are doing a crude cryotherapy.
Google that and see if there are any near by you.
They have chambers you stand in, so only your head sticks out. The chamber then fills with nitrogen gas, brining it down to -270f. You stand in there for 2-3 minutes at a time
View attachment 4815541

holly shit that looks scary whats the experience like? Do you go in there right after working out?

 

[ҖҗlegilizeitҗҖ]

holly shit that looks scary whats the experience like? Do you go in there right after working out?

You can! Its great for sore body, athlete recovery, or arthritis and other inflammation.
It feels great when you get out honestly, you get a great rush. Because the air does not contain any moisture, you will feel chilled but not uncomfortably cold. Your skin temperature will drop to an average of 50° F during the session but will increase back to normal within a few minutes of the session's conclusion.

 

[natureboygrower]

Thanks guys - I'll keep at it!

Hammer17,
Your reasoning makes sense... the areas I feel the pain when touching were maybe exercised more than others.

Based on the prints in the snow in my backyard, I've done this 9 times givertake so I must have started a couple weeks ago. The pain I noticed 3 days ago? About the time I started chest with weights. And my lower back was strained slightly riding in the snow with poor posture. Math adds up ; )

Today, I went out with just wool socks and boxer briefs. Definitely the way to go!
I don't record how long I stay out there because time seem irrelevant. I eventually start to shiver, then I shiver uncontrollably, then I'm calm for 5-10 seconds, shiver, calm, shiver, calm, ect. I always stand outside for some time before I go inside. The wind feels so cold but at that point I'm numb.

Once I stepped inside the house, it took me 18 minutes to stop shivering uncontrollably (no calm periods). I don't like having my muscles that tight and moving when I'm cold so I think I hate that part the most now.

But DAMN I feel great! I have a wonderful tingly feeling inside me all over hahaha

You sure all that shivering is good for you? Seems like contractions of muscles all over your body could cause stress? I'm definitely not a doctor but I get those terrible muscle cramps in my legs at night. If I were to do what you're doing, I would most likely stress my body to get those cramps later on.

 

[athlete]

The shivering I had to reconsider. Took a small dose of tincture (been at least a month) and realized the shivering is too much.

I think it weakened my shoulders. The weak shoulders I have that were recovering from my first chest workout in a decade. I also slept on my side and did some other stupid shit so it's always more than one thing...

Skin temp was 52F on my belly side.

I don't need to stay out as long as I have been. But I will certainly be continuing this.

I don't do it immediately after a workout. I want the sweat to dry before I go out into the snow... Even though I get wet anyways when the snow melts around my body.

Zero cramps! I get a warm tingly feeling inside my body when I get inside. But not the inflammation feeling, that shit is gone!

 

[Stukid]

Thanks guys - I'll keep at it!

Hammer17,
Your reasoning makes sense... the areas I feel the pain when touching were maybe exercised more than others.

Based on the prints in the snow in my backyard, I've done this 9 times givertake so I must have started a couple weeks ago. The pain I noticed 3 days ago? About the time I started chest with weights. And my lower back was strained slightly riding in the snow with poor posture. Math adds up ; )

Today, I went out with just wool socks and boxer briefs. Definitely the way to go!
I don't record how long I stay out there because time seem irrelevant. I eventually start to shiver, then I shiver uncontrollably, then I'm calm for 5-10 seconds, shiver, calm, shiver, calm, ect. I always stand outside for some time before I go inside. The wind feels so cold but at that point I'm numb.

Once I stepped inside the house, it took me 18 minutes to stop shivering uncontrollably (no calm periods). I don't like having my muscles that tight and moving when I'm cold so I think I hate that part the most now.

But DAMN I feel great! I have a wonderful tingly feeling inside me all over hahaha

Damn bro’ don’t get frostbite!

 

[Lordhooha]

Essentially you are doing a crude cryotherapy.
Google that and see if there are any near by you.
They have chambers you stand in, so only your head sticks out. The chamber then fills with nitrogen gas, brining it down to -270f. You stand in there for 2-3 minutes at a time
View attachment 4815541

I’ve done this twice now it’s awesome.