Ice Baths
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UFTriGator posted 24 weeks ago.
I've read from different sources anywhere from 10-20 minutes. I always do 15 minutes. I fill the bathtub up with water just high enough to cover my legs when I sit in it, then put in enough ice so that there is still a little ice floating in the top when the 15 minutes are up (makes sure that the water is going to be about as cold as you can get it). For my tub, that's about 40 lbs.
Longer doesn't always mean better. Don't sit in for 30 minutes b/c it's going to be twice as effective as 15 minutes. You can cause more damage than help if you freeze your legs that long.
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-Matt
Not fast enough.
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jperubog posted 24 weeks ago.
just as UFtrigator said, more is not always better, especially if after a month it is still bothering you, as a former wrestler and coach I had my share of injuries and ice baths, just make sure your coach knows about it, and if it is really bothering you, maybe you should get it checked out by an orthopedist just to be safe. If there is nothing seriously wrong he may tell you to just take it easy for a couple of weeks. You must be near the end of the season too, so you don't want to push it too hard before the big tourneys start.
good luck
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tri-ac posted 24 weeks ago.
first time i tried it, i put in (3) 8# bags of ice. I ended up with mildly cool water. the 40# mentioned above sounds much more like it...
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TriSooner posted 24 weeks ago.
I do it long enough for the ice to melt but not long enough for the six pack of beer floating in the tub to get warm. That'll do it.
Ironman Germany (July 6, 2008)
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Sully800 posted 24 weeks ago.
If you can use a trainer's tub with water jets I highly recommend it. It keeps the water moving across your legs, thereby getting a much better icing. It also feels much much colder, so you might have to be able to grit your teeth to stand it at first.
I've always heard 10-15 minutes for ice baths and not much more because you can start to do tissue damage if you stay in there for much longer.
My knee has been bothering me for about a month since I hurt it in wrestling practice and have recently been taking ice baths. How long should I take the ice bath? How do you guys do it? any special technique?