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Soaking feet in ICE water

Dino SartiDino Sarti
in General Training Discussions
I have had a sore right paw since my half marathon on Sunday. It didnt bother me during the race or on the following day when i just rested, but the second day during a light run it started to bug. It feels like sore muscles in the middle, bottom of my foot. I was able to long run tonight and didn't hurt or anything, but I knew it was there.

Anyhoo, based a bit of advice from friend I tried an ice water soak tonight. Holy heck!!! That hurts. It gave me a headache and made me sick to my stomach. Had I been under interrogation, I would have caved! Totally spilled my guts and I only did 10 minutes. Yuck.

Before I try this again, does any one else do this?

Ignore my awesome jammies....

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Comments

  • Tom GlynnTom Glynn
    Ice baths are fairly controversial. Studies seem to vary on results. Some say ice helps with the inflammation, others say it stops the body's natural healing process. I've tried them but stopped a long time ago.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User]
    I used to take ice baths for my legs, but stopped doing them after a while. Agree that it can be pretty painful, especially in your feet. I had to wear these neoprene socks because it was so painful for me... image
  • tim cronktim cronk
    X2 on Tom's comments...They say that Ice and Ibuprofin reduce inflamation but that inflamation is the way your body heals... Makes sense to me....But if your going to do it I believe it should be shorter intervals and like Anson suggested something to protect direct skin contact with the ice!
  • Brenda RossBrenda Ross
    Dino, that sounds like it might be the beginning of plantar fasciitis.

    Test

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T28jn3FKhZI

    http://www.athletestreatingathletes.com/body-resource-map/foot/

     

     

    I would not run.

     

  • Jason BaldomirJason Baldomir
    As a former AT in college I say 1. Cover those piggies when in an ice bath - all you need is a doubled over sock to co er your toes. 2. 20 minutes min to get desired effects then 20 off if you want to repeat. 3. Better yet, fill a 16 oz gatorade container an inch from the top and put in your freezer. Take out when frozen solid and roll slowly under your affected foot while watching tv for 20 minutes or so. Freeze a couple and then you can rotate them as they begin to defrost. Golf balls work good here as well as it sounds like a PF issue niggling... Best of luck!
  • rmillerrmiller
    The only thing I asked my family for at the conclusion of IMLP last year was to have a bucket of ice water ready for me to soak my feet in. Apparently it was a bit of a pain in the ass to cobble together - but I felt little remorse - I just did a friggin Ironman, surely they can manage to find a way to get a bucket of ice water (hint - there is a big lake right nearby, and the ice rink routinely dumps zamboni shavings out front of the ice rink - so there ya go).

    I love the effects of soaking in cold/ice water. If I have a foot injury, I go with ice, but if I'm doing an 'ice' bath, in reality it's just cold tap water. It doesn't actually need to be iced - 55F is plenty cold enough to get the job done. You're looking to reduce inflammation, not freeze soft tissue!

    Yeah, it's controversial because of the inflammation and healing thing, but I figure we are not talking 24/7 of soaking in ice water to reduce inflammation - there is plenty of time left in the day for inflammation to do its healing thing. Icing just helps prevent runaway inflammation and the secondary damage that it can cause.
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