If you prefer hopping into a cold showerpost-workout, you may have better luck withrecovery. One 2019 study reported that cold showers can help recovery afterworking out in hot environments. During the study, researchers examined nine healthy males who performed high-intensity cycling for 45 minutes in the heat. What the researchers found was that cold showers had the ability to quickly reduce cardiac stress and lower heart rates after working out. This is because exercise in hot environments causes your blood to be shared simultaneously among your heart, skin, and muscle, points out Runner's World. And, cold water cools each of these down the fastest. But why?

Exposure to cold water is not only refreshing, but it has the opposite impact of heat. Instead, cold temperatures slow blood flow to the body because blood vessels are constricted (via Shape). This process is called vasoconstriction. According to Aaron Drogoszewski, a NASM-certified personal trainer, "This increased demand strengthens the heart and blood vessels, translating to improved circulation longer term" (via Runner's World). This reduction in blood flow from cold water immersion may also help ease soreness and limit muscle swelling and inflammation caused by working out, shares Journal of Physiology. Still, more research is needed to confirm the impact of cold showers on muscle recovery.

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What Shower Temperature Is Best For Post-Workout Recovery? - Health Digest