Hot baths to loosen muscles?

Triathlon Forum
1

It seems that ice baths are all the fad now.

And I guess that massage is certainly the preferred technique to loosen up muscles.

But do hot baths remain a reasonable alternative to loosen up tight muscles? Or does it do more harm than good?

I just haven’t heard any suggest a hot both in a long time, so I thought I’d ask about it.

2

I use hot baths/showers to warm up my muscles for stretching 'em out.

3

Beats me, although my sore hip seems to be reacting much better to heat than to cold. I’ve been icing to reduce inflammation, then using a heating pad or hot water to loosen it back up afterward.

4

It seems that ice baths are all the fad now.

And I guess that massage is certainly the preferred technique to loosen up muscles.

But do hot baths remain a reasonable alternative to loosen up tight muscles? Or does it do more harm than good?

I just haven’t heard any suggest a hot both in a long time, so I thought I’d ask about it.
Ice baths are for recovery. Warm water can help ‘loosen’ up but does not help with recovery.

5

Not sure about the hot bath either, but I have found that a few hours after a long run, if I do an easy swim in the “fitness” pool at the gym (about 5* warmer than the lap pool) for ~35 minutes seems to make the legs, back, hips happier.

6

I use hot baths, esp with epsom salts, all the time. I find it really helps loosen up my hips/glutes/hammies, which get tight after long/v. hard sessions. Ice has no similar effect on me.

What ever works for you.

AP

7

hot tub before workout!

8

a long, hot bath is my recovery treat and fix after a very long bike or run. i take a tall water bottle + reading material, and just stretch out and soak for a goodly long time. this, of course, is if i can make my schedule work just right.
i stretch after every run and bike ride, but after these long ones, the long, hot soak seems to work really well at recovery, and i do the stretching after the bath.
so, in answer to your original question: yes, i’ve found a hot bath to help my recovery.
peggy

9

My hip enjoys the hot tub after a good icing.

10

I’ve heard people say you should alternate hot and cold water to relax muscles after a workout. Any truth to that?

11

I prefer the first two alternatives: massage and ice/cold water. My recovery is much better when using that protocol!

12

if sports physiologists ever figure out if its heat or ice that help things heal, please send me a PM and let me know
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