i had fallen asleep before our semi-final and when i woke up (half an hour before i was supposed to be at the stadium) i jumped in the shower at the hotel, and for some unknown reason i did a contrast hot/cold shower, i played the game of my life funny enough, so was it because my CNS was shocked from the contrast or did the sleep have something to do with it? or both?
Both! Contrast showers can have a tremendous effect.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
David is gasping for air!
Richard finds it relaxes the muslces!
It promotes circulation? After a basketball game I like to use contrast showers since our whirlpool is gross. I was told to aim the spout on the back of the head and let the water flow over my body, not try to hit different body parts. What is the secret!!!
:shoot::shoot::afro:
Charlie, you can`t really damage your CNS anyway can you? It feels sorta weird when i do the contrast, like when the ice cold water hits my back, i gasp for air, which is the right response i hope 
Just a question about these… for contrast showers, where should the shower head be aimed at?
Do you let the water run over your head? Down your back? Or aim it at the muscle group in need of recovery (eg. hamstrings)?
Run the body over your entire body (don’t forget your head!).
Charlie recommends a protocol of 3m hot, 1m cold x 3.
If you are in the middle of competition, perhaps one or two cycles will suffice. If it’s very hot weather, perhaps you could go 1min cold, 3min hot, 1min cold for the cycle.
My track coach told me that you should aim the spray on the back of the head. Do I hit my muscles now to get them ready or to get them recovered?
Hit everywhere INCLUDING the back of the head, which many people avoid.
Charlie Francis,
What does the contrast shower do to the muscles? Relax them or wake them up? Does they heal the muscles faster? I am more confused!:mrt:
I tried to do a search on contrast showers but I guess this clemson guy was an idiot or something.:shoot:
woah I haven’t used contrast showers properly for a while, and I did them today. I flicked it on cold and all of a sudden I was gasping for air and sobbing like a little girl. This can become addictive.
contrast showers increase circulation of the muscle for faster recovery/healing and can also relax the muscle.
I just used contrast shower, it’s very relaxing. I feel great.
I’ll give you about a month before you’re addicted. I do contrast showers everyday to some degree. Sometimes I don’t have the balls to get my whole body cold and only contrast my legs or my head.
I think I’m already addicted!
They work like a champ, but sometimes I get impatient because it requires at least 15 minutes in the shower, and since I normally spend about 5 minutes tops for a normal shower, 15 minutes seems like an eternity.
True…I use a 3 min hot 1 min cold and it does seem to go on for ages…The hot treatment is heaven! Contrast showers are the way forward!!!