we all know that you ice a muscle after you have damaged it. and aply heat later to aide recovery. but dose this work when trying to build muscle???

after rugby players have an ice bath to preven aches but dose this hinder the muscle repaire/groth?

i know that technical this should help matters but something tells me this aint the case and its not just coz arnold takes a piping hot shower after his work out in the film pumping iron.  

that fact that when ever i have taken an ice bath after a match my legs dont ache. sruley no pain no gain rule comes in to play?

any one know any thing about this matter please advise one confused lil man.

It doesnt hinder gains at all buddy. The quicker your muscles recover the quicker you will grow!

I ice my shoulders as soon as ive trained them.

might try this o0o0o

cheers buddy.

its great having some one at hand that can confirm those hunches one has from time to time.

funny how things have changed i remember as a lad (who lied about his age to join the local bb gym) seeing huge guys taking long sauna's after a w/o thinking this helped muscle recovery but due to moden scince we know know that heat after is counter productive.

Ice works so well for injured muscles. When a muscle is inflamed blood is drawn to the surface and when ice is applied it takes it away helping to reduce the swelling.


Fill a polystyrene cup with water and put in the freezer.

Rub some oil on the affected area to prevent the skin burning from the ice.

As you circulate the cup the ice will obviously melt so just tear away the edges so you have direct ice on it all the time, frozen peas is no good because it doesnt go deep enough and thawes too quick.

Circulate the affected area for at least 10-15 mins at a time (a few mins is no good) and do as often as possible for optimum recovery.


Hope this helps a liitle  

i'll give that a try but up till now ive used a freezable ice pack. you buy them and freeze them they can also be walmed and used 2 aply heat. its a bag of liquid not sure wot the liquids called but its very clever.