Sports Medicine Fads: Ice Baths

"Despite myriad claims that cold plunges can boost metabolism, immune systems, mental health, and cardiovascular health, there isn’t enough scientific evidence for medical experts to definitively agree that there are benefits in doing so. The only benefit researchers widely agree on is that it can help reduce inflammation and pain for sore muscles and achy joints."

Even the last sentence is not true (link). Click on the link below for the article:

Ice Baths: What The Experts Think.

Ice: Fine For Post-Injury Pain, But - - -

I learned early in my physical therapy career to follow the evidence in all treatment. Unfortunately, much in physical therapy is not backed up with good supporting evidence. Ice is no exception.

This article is clear: ice adds no value to the healing process. That given, it is a fairly good pain-reliever.

Ice And NSAIDs For Acute Soft Tissue Injuries?

Conventional treatment for acute orthopedic injuries may not be as science-based as it should be:

"Even though there are some animal studies supporting the hypothesis that icing may have an effect on various inflammatory events at a cellular level (Bleakley et al 2010), that still does not support the belief that many have that icing is actually beneficial in humans in real clinical settings. In fact clinical trials on the efficacy of RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) have supported the use of compression but have found no value in icing (other than the temporary numbing effect already mentioned) (Hubbard et al 2004)."

Paradigm Shifts: Use of Ice & NSAIDs Post Acute Soft Tissue Injuries (Part 1 of 2)

"- - - sure there are studies supporting the use of NSAIDs on soft-tissue injuries and that is precisely why health care providers support their use, however the studies look at the short-term symptomatic recovery; what they fail to do is look at the long-term effects and recurrence rates with and without NSAIDs. At the expense of faster recovery, what effects do NSAIDs have on the actual quality of the bone, tendon, ligament or muscle repair?"

Paradigm Shifts: Use of Ice & NSAIDs Post Acute Soft Tissue Injuries (Part 2 of 2)

Debunking Pseudoscience In The Olympics

"Unfortunately, an investigation by the BBC and the British Medical Journal discovered that many of products and training practices that gain popularity via the Olympics are not supported by sound science.  So, in preparation for the upcoming Rio Games, here is a quick debunk of some popular evidence-less sports trends."  (Note: this was written before the Olympics and the revelations concerning cupping, which also is an evidence-less sports trend.)

Olympic Debunk

Ice Therapy for Orthopedic Injuries

In every physical therapy clinic and athletic trainer's room one will find ice for treatment in many forms.  However, most lay people don't realize that the use of ice for orthopedic injuries has very thin research support.  In addition, there is some research and speculation that it, in at least some situations, may make the situation worse.