I have done the ice thing a couple of times. She is correct. Not bad after you get numb.
I bite on a towel as I get in. My Training coach told me to do it if I run more than an hour to help save the knees and joints from the pounding of running.
One of the professional Rugby League teams in England do it (St. Helens I think). Some of the players have to be physically forced into the plunge pool after the game. I’m guessing that its not too popular!!
Seems to be alot of talk about the ice bath atm. My last track coach was a big believer in the "hydrotherapy bath" as she called it. she would tell us after every training session or race to jump in an ice cold bath for 30secs, then hop in a warm shower for two minutes. apparantly it is supposed to aid in the bodies recovery by helping remove lactic acid more quickly from muscles or something like that... all i am certain of is that it works for me! it can be a bit unpleasant at first, but u get used to it and you feel much better the next day
i usually go ice cold bath (i dont go too hard core with the ice - just a tray) jump in for 30secs, then run into the warm shower for two minutes and repeat several times... think it makes the muscles active (relaxing and contracting) and therefore removes lactic more quickly