Contrast therapy is a popular rehabilitation and recovery technique that has its roots in ancient naturopathic medicine.
Today, contrast therapy is used most often by athletes and fitness enthusiasts looking for quick recovery from training or pain relief from sore muscles and injuries. As the benefits of contrast therapy are becoming more mainstream, the demand for it is growing. But you don’t have to be an athlete to enjoy the benefits contrast therapy can provide – it can be an effective practice for anyone suffering from chronic pains and aches. Some of the benefits of contrast therapy include:
- Improved Circulation
- Decreased Swelling
- Reduced Inflammation
- Improvement in Muscle Strains
- Increased Range of Motion
- Reduced Muscle Soreness
- Increased Energy & Alertness
- Elevated Mood
How Does Contrast Therapy Work?
1. Benefits of Heat Therapy
Heat therapy is an effective approach for treating a variety of musculoskeletal injuries. Heat therapy requires that the warmth penetrates the skin and reaches the underlying tissues. There are two types of heat therapy: superficial and deep. Superficial heat therapy makes use of heating pads and hot baths, while deep heat therapy often requires the use of an infrared sauna.
2. Benefits of Cold Therapy
Cryotherapy is one of the most common ways to treat acute injuries. Ice packs are often the first treatment option recommended after a sprain or strain. Cryotherapy causes your blood vessels to narrow (a process called vasoconstriction), which then reduces the flow of blood towards the injury site. It’s extremely effective for reducing swelling, as well as inflammation.
3. Contrast Therapy Benefits
Contrast therapy works by exerting a physiological effect on the body’s pain gate mechanism. This temporarily alters the pain signals traveling to and from your brain, which can bring a large amount of relief for many people dealing with chronic pain. Both nervous and musculoskeletal system pain can be cured by systematically using contrast baths or saunas.
Because heat expands and cold contracts, contrast therapy is also great for flushing out unwanted stagnant waste in the body by creating a “pumping” mechanism in the body. Contrast therapy can help flush lymph fluid efficiently throughout the body, thus reducing inflammation and the likelihood of getting ill. The pumping mechanism also helps boost the amount of nutrient-rich blood circulating around the body and can help you feel invigorated and alert.
How To Do Contrast Therapy
The easiest and most effective form of contrast therapy is wet therapy, which requires you to submerge yourself and switch between a hot sauna and a cold bath. Begin by entering the hot sauna and stay for around 10-15 minutes before switching immediately to the cold bath for around 1-5 minutes. Always start with heat before moving to cold unless you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, in which case you want to finish on hot. Repeat the steps for a total of around 20-30 minutes.
Take The Plunge At Tree of Life
TOL boasts a fantastic infrared sauna and cold plunge tub that are perfect for your contrast therapy needs. You will find our infrared sauna and cold plunge tub in a private, relaxing retreat, and are consistently at the ideal therapeutic temperatures. So whether you’re looking to flush out your lymphatic system, or you’re trying to relieve some muscle soreness from that killer workout, come and enjoy our state-of-the-art sauna and plunge tub for maximum relief and wellness.