Icing Injuries Can Reduce Your Performance
April 29, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Icing is considered to be an excellent way to treat sports related injuries. It reduces swelling, inflammation and pain. On the other hand, when you use it throughout your exercise session or even during an athletic competition – it may reduce your performance and cause injury.
Icing Can Decrease Performance Before & During Exercise
Ice can also reduce nerve metabolism and muscle. In addition, it can harm the speed of muscle activation and even slow nerve conduction rates. Old Dominion University experts discovered that placing an ice bag on a hamstring for approximately ten minutes can reduce one’s performance in vertical jump and sprinting. During the experiment, the effects of icing lasted for about twenty minutes.
So, if you are ever injured from a workout, icing is a great way to recover. Remember, never use icing before or during a workout.
(Source: Journal Strength Conditioning Research, published online, December 2008)
