The Benefits of Cold Plunges for Athletes

Cold water immersion therapy has been popular among athletes for years. They claim its many benefits, even if science hasn’t been able to keep up with all the research behind it yet.

Theta Wellness Center explores some of the benefits of a cold plunge for athletes.

Reduces Inflammation

Many athletes have found that using a Titan cold plunge, or even a quick ice bath, can help reduce inflammation after an intense workout. One of the reasons for this could be that cold water reduces circulation to the damaged muscle areas, which prevents muscle swelling and soreness.

Ease Muscle Soreness

Much like the way an ice pack can help ease the soreness of a pulled or strained muscle, a cold plunge is an ice pack for your entire body. And it doesn’t take long. Most newcomers submerge for only a couple of minutes, and work their way up to five, then maybe 10 minutes maximum.

A study on jiu-jitsu athletes showed an improvement in muscle soreness and recovery time when cold water immersion therapy was utilized.

Related post: What are Some Benefits of a Cold Plunge?

Improve Mood and Mental Clarity

For many cold plunge users, they find that repeated exposure to the ice water improves their mood and lowers their stress levels. One reason could be that cold water immersion can reduce pain and inflammation, which can significantly improve the quality of life for someone with a chronic condition like arthritis. There have been studies done that support the benefits of cold water immersion therapy for mental well-being.

Another reason is that it improves baseline dopamine levels. Dopamine is a chemical produced in the brain and is connected to feelings of happiness, pleasure, and improved mood. Regular cold plunge sessions can help dopamine levels to stay elevated.

Speed Up Recovery Time

A cold plunge after a rough workout can reduce the pain and swelling that naturally follows, increasing recovery time. Immediately following the cold water therapy, the blood vessels reopen, and circulation is improved.

If you are trying to build muscle, however, it is best to wait 4-6 hours after a weightlifting session before using a cold plunge.

Related post: Flotation Therapy FAQs

Cold Plunge in Springfield, MO

Theta Wellness Center offers cold water therapy in the form of our Titan cold plunge, as well as floatation therapy, saunas, and massages. We want to help you improve your overall health and wellness.
Let us help you become the best, most relaxed version of yourself. Book online or call us at 417.812.5135.

What Are Some Health Benefits of a Cold Plunge?

If you haven’t tried the Titan Cold Plunge at Theta Wellness Center, you are missing out. Cold water immersion therapy is great for runners, athletes, and individuals with chronic pain conditions.

What Is Cold Water Immersion Therapy?

Cold water immersion (CWI), also known as cold plunge, ice bath, or cold water therapy, is exactly as it sounds. A person submerges their entire body (except their head) in a bath of ice-cold water. Most beginners only submerge themselves for five minutes or less because it takes time for the body to acclimate to being in such cold temperatures.

Who Can Benefit?

Anyone who suffers from muscle pain and inflammation can see benefits from weekly cold plunges. They are a favorite of marathon runners, weightlifters, and competitive athletes because it helps to reduce muscle pain and swelling and can speed up recovery time.

Anyone with chronic pain from diseases like arthritis or fibromyalgia may also see some relief from continued use of a cold plunge.

Related Post: Flotation Therapy FAQs

What Are the Health Benefits?

Regular use of cold water immersion therapy has multiple health benefits, including:

• Reduced inflammation

• Reduced pain in muscles and joints

• Faster muscle recovery

• Improved circulation

• Stronger immune system

• Increased metabolism

• Reduced anxiety or depression

When you pull a muscle or hurt a joint, it is recommended to ice the area to help reduce the swelling. A cold plunge works much in the same way. Think of it as a giant ice pack for your body.

If you are looking for ways to improve pain and swelling without taking medication, regular cold plunges can be a great help. Less pain and easier mobility lead to better mental health as well.

Should Anyone Avoid a Cold Plunge?

Using a cold plunge in a controlled environment with professionals is typically safe for most people. If you have a history of heart problems, or have a serious medical illness, talk to your doctor before you try it.

As with anything, the key is to start out slow. Maybe only use it for a couple of minutes the first time, and slowly increase how long you can tolerate the cold.

Related post: Addressing Concerns For New Floaters

Cold Plunge in Springfield, MO

Theta Wellness Center offers cold water therapy as well as floatation therapy, saunas, and massages. We want to help you improve your overall health and wellness.
Let us help you become the best, most relaxed version of yourself. Book online or call us at 417.812.5135.

Addressing Concerns for Your First Float Session

If you are preparing for your very first float, it’s normal to have some concerns. Fortunately, floating is not a stressful activity. In fact, it is intended to relieve stress and anxiety. Tailoring your first float to what makes you the most comfortable is perfectly acceptable.

Theta Wellness Center addresses some concerns floaters might have when trying their first float.

Leaving the Lights On

The ideal experience is to float with the lights off, as this helps you to achieve a deeper sensory deprivation experience. Removing anything that could be distracting, such as lights or sounds, can make it easier to relax and focus on your body and your breathing. Having the lights off is not a requirement, however.

If you are anxious about the idea of floating in the dark, it is perfectly acceptable to leave the lights on! The internal lights can help you see what is happening in the tank and reassure you that things are going well. Whatever works best for you is what you should do, and you can always work up to turning the lights off on your next float.

Related Post: What is a Far Infrared Sauna?

Leaving the Cabin Door Open

If this is your first float, the idea of shutting the float cabin door all the way might seem intimidating, and that’s okay! It is perfectly acceptable to leave the door open or partially open while you float. There is no right or wrong way to float, so seek the way that makes you feel the most comfortable.

The point of float therapy is to relax your body and mind, so do what you need to to create that environment. Working up to a point where you can close the door and leave the lights off can be a future goal, but it is definitely not a requirement.

Claustrophobia

Many people are claustrophobic and have a fear of small or tight spaces. If you fall into this category, no worries! Floating is still for you.

Consider leaving the cabin door open. That way, you don’t feel totally enclosed. It’s perfectly acceptable and can alleviate the feeling of being closed in. You are free to open and close the door, as well as exit the cabin whenever you need to. 

Many float spas, including Theta Wellness Center, also now have open float pools. These pools are designed exactly with those claustrophobic floaters in mind, so they can float freely and without worry.

Related post: Flotation Therapy FAQs

Water Sanitation

The water in our float pools is sanitized with a series of filters and an integrated Ultraviolet sterilization system. We follow the sanitation standards of the Float Tank Administration, and the water is run through a filtration system for 15 minutes in between each person. It is also important to remember the salt content of the water in our float vessels, which also helps to keep the water sanitary and kill off unwanted bacteria.

Float Spa in Springfield, MO

Theta Wellness Center can help you navigate your first float while you find relaxation and rejuvenation through floatation therapy. If you have additional questions or concerns about your first float, just contact us! 
Let us help you become the best, most relaxed version of yourself. Book online or call us at 417.812.5135.

What Is a Far-Infrared Sauna?

If you love a good sauna experience, you may have heard about the far-infrared saunas available. But what is it, and how is it different from the traditional Finnish sauna?

Theta Wellness Center has both and can explain what makes an infrared sauna different.

Far-Infrared Sauna

Traditional saunas use a heating element to heat the air inside the sauna to a certain temperature, which in turn makes the sauna user sweat. Typically these saunas have heated rocks that you can pour water over to create steam. Rocks are used because they absorb and retain the heat from the heating element. The sauna can get up to 185 degrees inside.

In an infrared sauna, however, the sauna is heated using special lights instead of the heating element. Far infrared simply describes where the light falls on the spectrum. 

Unlike a traditional sauna, the infrared lights don’t necessarily heat the room but heat the individual instead. This can be a more comfortable experience for those who don’t necessarily like the high heat of the traditional sauna room, as the far-infrared sauna temperatures stay between 120-150 degrees.

Many far-infrared saunas also utilize chromotherapy, and you can choose the color displayed. 

Benefits of Saunas

There are many benefits to using both types of saunas, including:

• Eased muscle pain and soreness

• Increased circulation

• Reduced stress

• Increased heart rate

• Improved skin issues like psoriasis

• Relieved symptoms of asthma

• Lowered blood pressure

• Reduced risk of dementia and Alzheimer’s

A 2009 study also showed evidence that far-infrared saunas may reduce blood pressure and improve cardiovascular issues with regular use.

Another study in 2017 showed that regular sauna use correlates to a reduced risk of developing dementia and Alzheimers.

Far-Infrared Sauna in Springfield, MO

Theta Wellness Center offers both infrared and Finnish saunas for the 417 region and beyond. Let us help you become the best, most relaxed version of yourself. We also have flotation therapy, massages, and a cold plunge. Book online or call us at 417.812.5135.