🧊Reasons I Use the Ice Pod as a Physical Therapist🧊 As a physical therapist, a common question I get is: “Should I use heat or ice?” While both have their benefits, I have been using ice baths more recently to help manage pain from several injuries I have picked up in the last couple of years. For me, I have found that ice baths can be part of a well-rounded rehab program. Here is some research I have been able to find on the topic: 📖 Use of Cryotherapy for Managing Chronic Pain: An Evidence-Based Narrative (Garcia et al., 2021) found that cryotherapy helps reduce chronic pain and inflammation by slowing nerve conduction and decreasing tissue swelling, providing temporary relief that complements strength training. 📖 Efficacy of Whole-body Cryotherapy in the Treatment of Chronic Low Back Pain: Quasi-experimental Study (Salas-Fraire et al., 2023) studied whole-body cryotherapy and found significant reductions in low back pain and improved mobility—especially when combined with movement and exercise. 📖 Huberman’s Ice Bath Protocol: Neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Huberman recommends 11 minutes per week of cold exposure (spread across multiple sessions) to improve recovery, inflammation control, and mental resilience. Beyond recovery, cold exposure builds mental toughness—teaching your body to stay calm under stress, improving focus, and reinforcing discipline. #IceBath #Recovery #Cryotherapy #ColdPlunge #IcePod