Ice baths for recovery are detrimental?

[Ryan]

According to this study, ice baths were detrimental to recovery in rugby players. Contrast baths did appear to have a benefit.

The continued use of 5-minute ice baths for recovery should be   reconsidered based on this research because trends suggest a detrimental   effect.

[Andrew A.]

According to what I have read, there is zero research to substantiate the use of ice baths in the absence of injury.

http://www.onlinejets.org/article.asp?issn=0974-2700;year=2010;volume=3;issue=3;spage=302;epage=303;aulast=Lateef

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:M1_xbjCD7dYJ:coaching.uka.org.uk/blog/optimising-the-coordination-and-timing-of-training-and-nutrition/+ice+baths+adaptation+2010+uka+coach&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

[Andrew A.]

http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=21076&PageNum&CategoryID

[Ryan]

Some very interesting comments in there. If inflammation is a natural part of the recovery and overcompensation process that gives us the training effect we're looking for, why would we want to prevent or lessen it?

As for pain killing, I've never been a fan of that. The pain is there for a reason, it's telling us that we're harming our bodies. Try to mask it or pretend it doesn't exist and you're playing with fire.

[Andrew A.]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1326499/Painful-ice-baths-harm-good-says-scientist-British-Olympics-team.html

[Andrew A.]

http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=21202

[Ed]

I found this to be a good quote from http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=21076&PageNum&CategoryID   “With most things, the normal physiological response is the optimal amount that the body can do. It’s the exact right amount.”

[Andrew A.]

Further anecdotal evidence (FYI, 10C = 50F -- while cold, hardly an "ice bath"): http://sweatscience.com/ice-baths-for-recovery-15-minutes-at-10-c/

[grasshopper]

Some say yes, some say no.