What is contrast therapy?
What Is Contrast Therapy?
Contrast therapy involves alternating between hot and cold temperatures. Here at Renew, you will alternate between the hot infrared sauna and the cold ice bath to achieve therapeutic benefits.
As the body is exposed to the heat of the sauna your blood vessels expand, increasing the flow of blood and oxygen. When the body is introduced to the cold, it causes the blood vessels to restrict. This contrasting hot cold process helps cleanse, clear and heal the body & mind from the inside out.
This process can be repeated several times, alternating hot and cold for as little as 30 seconds up to a few minutes. Contrast therapy timing and temperatures depend on your health needs and goals, so it’s always a good idea to work with a healthcare provider before exploring the practice.
Top 6 Benefits of Contrast Therapy
1 Alleviating Muscle Soreness, Pain, and Inflammation
Contrast therapy aids in pain reduction by enhancing blood circulation and alleviating inflammation, thus expediting recovery post strenuous physical exertion.
2. Enhancing Skin Health
The alternating hot and cold temperatures of contrast therapy stimulate the skin, promoting detoxification and potentially leading to improved skin health and tone.
3. Improving Circulation
The dynamic nature of hot and cold therapy supports the expansion and constriction of blood vessels, enhancing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to tissues.
4. Reducing Stress and Anxiety
Particularly, cold therapy serves as an effective method for transitioning the body from a restless state to a relaxed one, potentially reducing overall stress levels, improving stress tolerance, and enhancing mood.
5. Expediting Athlete Recovery
Contrast therapy is widely utilised in sports to facilitate athlete recovery by managing muscle fatigue, mitigating injury risk, and optimizing the recovery process between training or competitions.
6. Promoting Quality Sleep
Cold therapy, in particular, can shift the body into a state of relaxation, resulting in a slower heart rate, thus potentially promoting a more tranquil and restful sleep.
