{"id":20638,"date":"2023-04-17T16:13:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-17T23:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hmsstg.wpengine.com\/?p=20638"},"modified":"2025-01-29T10:03:04","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T18:03:04","slug":"contrast-bathing-can-infrared-help","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hms.healthmatesauna.com\/?p=20638","title":{"rendered":"Contrast Bathing: Can Infrared Help?"},"content":{"rendered":"

What\u2019s old is new again! More than ever, we are seeing tried and true health and fitness practices often reserved for professional athletes become part of mainstream treatment for those seeking better overall health. And the latest resurgence is with contrast bathing<\/a>. It\u2019s a 2,000-year-old practice where you use both cold and heat treatments, interchanging repeatedly. Often this means using ice and hot water, but when it comes to contrast \u2018bathing,\u2019 can infrared help?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s explore.<\/p>\n

How Does Contrast Bathing Work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

You\u2019ve seen and heard of people sitting in hot tubs only to climb out and jump into a patch of snow or plunge into a freezing body of water, then back. You get shivers just watching! It\u2019s like an extreme sport. But is there an actual benefit to it?<\/p>\n

\"man<\/p>\n

Contrast bathing, also called hydrotherapy, is a purposeful practice that done repeatedly can have positive results. It treats a host of issues, typically ones related to muscle and joint discomfort. Contrast bathers sometimes isolate specific areas where they have pain, such as an arm, knee, or back, to soak first in hot water than in cold, then back to hot, repeatedly.<\/p>\n

The typical scenario starts with submerging your body or body part for up to 10 minutes in hot water, like a whirlpool tub, then alternating to 1 min in cold (50 degrees F), such as a cold plunge tub, back to hot (100-110 degrees or so F) for half the time, then cold again over a 30-minute period. While there is no exact protocol or temperature setting, this is considered standard<\/a>. A simpler alternative\u2014a shower turned from hot to cold and back. More intense methods use cryotherapy<\/a>, typically in clinical settings, as part of acute treatment.<\/p>\n

Contrast bathing could be done daily, weekly, or as needed. As a precaution, you should defer to a medical advisor if you have diabetes, high blood pressure or other health concerns that would preclude this treatment.<\/p>\n

What Are Contrast Bathing Benefits?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Contrast bathing can be used to treat a host of body and health concerns, including:<\/p>\n