CHISEL YOUR OWN SET OF ICEPACK ABS
SCROLL THROUGH the Instagram feeds of the sporting elite and you’ll notice ice baths and cryotherapy chambers have become as ubiquitous as found whole-body cryotherapy was less effective than a placebo at curbing muscle pain in marathon runners. But, far from skating on thin ice, researchers have now identified a solid benefit to post-workout chills. When sports scientists at Swansea University subjected athletes to extremely low temperatures after an explosive sprint session, they recorded a testosterone spike in the subjects’ saliva lasting 24 hours. Your body clicks into survival mode when exposed to potentially deadly sub-zero conditions, so it releases a cocktail of “cold-shock” proteins to prevent muscle tissue wasting away. One side effect is a boost of the muscle-building hormone testosterone. In other words, it’s much more likely to help your delts than your DOMS. We’re not suggesting you spend a small fortune on cryotherapy sessions – a bathtub and a few packets of party ice will suffice. A cold shower or dip in the ocean will also work. Either way, you’ll fool your body into raising your T-levels. As a cheap trick for extra muscle, we think that’s pretty cool.
