Cold water therapy: Researchers reveal its health benefits

To answer these questions, a group of researchers at the University of South Australia conducted a comprehensive study aimed at evaluating the health benefits of cold water therapy.

The study results showed that this practice may be beneficial, but at the same time it carries some limitations that must be taken into account.

Analysis of the effects of cold water therapy

Researchers used data from 11 studies involving 3,177 participants to analyze the effects of cold water therapy on stress levels, sleep quality, and overall quality of life.

The results found that immersion in cold water may help to temporarily relieve stress, but the benefits are short-lived and highly context-dependent.

Tara Kane, a researcher at the University of South Australia, says: “Although cold water therapy is widely accepted in sports circles, its effects on the general public are still not fully understood.”

 Stress relief and improved sleep

The study showed that immersion in cold water can reduce stress levels for up to 12 hours.

Participants who incorporated cold showers into their daily routine also reported a slight improvement in their quality of life, with each shower lasting between 20 and 90 seconds. However, the researchers noted that these benefits faded after three months, suggesting that consistency may be the key factor in achieving lasting results.

Regarding other health effects, regular cold showers have been shown to reduce the number of sick days taken from work, with one study showing a 29 percent decrease in the number of days lost due to illness.

However, this result raises questions about the mechanisms that lead to this effect, and whether these results apply to everyone or only to certain groups.