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What is a Contrast Bath?

D. Messmer
D. Messmer

A contrast bath, also called hot/cold immersion therapy, is a method of treating soreness, swelling, and inflammation in a person's joints or muscles. It is useful for treating joint injuries, such as mild sprains, and can also ease the symptoms of chronic conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Some athletes also use contrast bathing to speed up recovery from exercise. A contrast bath involves immersing the joint in alternating hot and cold water, which helps to increase blood flow to the area and accelerate metabolic healing. Contrast bath therapy also causes numbness in the joint or muscle and increases the elasticity of the ligaments, giving the bather greater range of motion.

The process works through a repetition of two processes known as vasodilation and vasoconstriction. The hot water causes vasodilation, or the widening of the blood vessels, while the cold water causes vasoconstriction, which is when the blood vessels tighten. A contrast bath alternates between these two processes in order to create a pumping action in the area receiving the treatment. It is this pumping action that increases blood flow and helps to drain excess fluids out of a swollen joint or muscle.

A contrast bath can be used to treat joint injuries.
A contrast bath can be used to treat joint injuries.

In order to benefit from a contrast bath, the bather must first fill two separate basins; one with hot water and the other with cold. The cold water should be between 50° and 65° F (10° and 18° C) while the hot water should be between 100° and 110° F (38° and 44° C). Temperature will vary slightly depending on the comfort of the bather. The bather then alternates placing the joint in each basin. The amount of time the joint should remain in each basin varies depending on the injury, but generally it must remain in each basin for at least one minute for vasodilation and vasoconstriction to take place.

A contrast bath increases blood flow by repeating the processes of narrowing and widening of blood vessels.
A contrast bath increases blood flow by repeating the processes of narrowing and widening of blood vessels.

There is some disagreement among health professionals regarding the benefits of a contrast bath. While the pumping action that the process creates is undeniable, there is some debate over just how this process accelerates healing. In the case of more chronic ailments, contrast baths only offer a temporary relief from symptoms and often do very little to improve the overall condition of the joint. This temporary relief can cause some bathers to either further injure the area or to avoid more viable long-term solutions. For instance, someone with carpal tunnel syndrome might use contrast baths to ease the pain and increase range of motion in order to be able to continue the activity that is causing the problem in the first place, or as a substitute for surgery.

Discussion Comments

burcinc

@fify-- You actually don't have to go from super hot water to super cold. You could do this in the shower and cool down (or heat up) the water slowly. It'll let your skin adjust to the temperature difference and won't cause pain. And you still get the benefits of increased circulation and faster healing.

You could even do this with hot and cold compresses by switching between them. I've done that a couple of times too, especially for inflammation. All you need is ice and a hot water compress or bottle. Just make sure that you don't put the ice or the compress directly on the skin. Put a thin towel or cloth in between.

fify

@feruze-- Wow, how do you manage the extreme temperatures?

I did this once as part of a tennis elbow treatment (lateral epicondylitis) as instructed by my doctor. It was not bad, I had had two large bowls of hot and cold water. I dipped my elbow in one and then the other.

But I could not imagine doing a shower with really hot and then cold water. I think my body would go into shock!

I actually wanted to try this for a sprained ankle once and my feet couldn't take the temperature difference. It was actually painful! I ended up just putting an ice pack on my ankle.

bear78

I love doing a contrast shower whenever I rip muscles at the gym. I learned this technique from my buddy who's into body building. I was complaining about how sore and my painful my arms and chest would feel after working out. If I worked hard core for two days or even a day, I had to take three or four days off just to heal from it.

My buddy told me that I should try a contrast bath. He said I would be back to the gym in just one day with this technique. It seemed too simple to work but I tried it and it works!

I actually do this in the shower, not as a bath. I first turn on hot water for about ten minutes and then I turn on ice cold water for another ten. I keep doing this for half an hour to forty minutes whenever I'm sore from working out.

When I get out of the shower, I feel so relaxed. The pain is less and I feel good enough to head back to the gym the next day. I love this technique.

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    • A contrast bath can be used to treat joint injuries.
      By: Tatty
      A contrast bath can be used to treat joint injuries.
    • A contrast bath increases blood flow by repeating the processes of narrowing and widening of blood vessels.
      By: Alexandr Mitiuc
      A contrast bath increases blood flow by repeating the processes of narrowing and widening of blood vessels.
    • Contrast baths relieve the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome, which is common in web programmers and other frequent computer users.
      By: Artur Marciniec
      Contrast baths relieve the pain of carpal tunnel syndrome, which is common in web programmers and other frequent computer users.