After a heavy workout what feels great is a nice, calm bath to relax your body. But the question is which one is best, a cold or a hot shower. Hot water helps the muscles to relax better and recovers fatigue. On the other hand, cold water helps to manage the temperature of the body after working out. Craving for a hot shower in the morning is quite natural. But you should also include a cold shower in your daily routine. Researches proved that both hot and cold showers have health benefits.

Hot Shower

Some gyms recommend saunas and warm water baths after heavy workout sessions. Heat swells things and a hot shower helps to dilate the blood vessels and relax the sore and tight muscles. Spending 10-15 minutes in the shower will help to grow the flow of blood in your muscles. It gives relief from body tension and assists to diffuse the built-up lactic acid and let it out from the body muscles. Heat opens up pores of the human body and hair cuticles and thus gets all the dirt out from the body. Hot tub manufacturers came up with many varieties in the market to select from.

Cold Shower

There are numerous benefits of a cold shower or using ice in your body after an intense workout as you experience stress as well as strain. A cold shower helps to stop swelling, bruising and reduces inflammation. It provides immediate relief from pain by numbing the nerve ending and cures itchiness. That is why ice bags are used on an injury.

Final Thought

So there is no correct answer to the question of which shower is better after working out. To decrease the inflammation of muscles and joints, start with a cold shower and then a hot shower. This will reduce the pain in the muscles and joints. Going from a cold shower to a hot shower also helps with possible sternness.