"putting your legs up on the wall will drain the lactic acid and mimic an ice bath" true or complete BS?

Yes, neither of them work.

Same question I have. Anyone?

Your supposed to take the ice bath and then put your legs on the wall for 10 minutes.

never seen any studies on the subject but I used it as an athlete 40 years ago because my coach recommended it and then used it for 30+ years with kids because I was generally sure that it could do no harm and it did seem to help promote a bit of freshness to the legs. Might be pure placebo but I always sold it hard to my athletes and most took it and ran with it and believed in it.

I would love to know if anyone has access to any published research or further information on it.

bump

LilUziWorshipper wrote:

My coach tells us this will help our legs feel fresher for races or whatever, but I don't really believe it.

Does it work or not?

Aren't ice baths meant to be harmful in the long run?

What you said is BS. Lactic acid isn't draining out of your legs, and ice baths actually inhibit training adaptations, so no do NOT do that.

However putting your feet up after a tough run feels good, so do that.

thenoticeman wrote:

LilUziWorshipper wrote:

My coach tells us this will help our legs feel fresher for races or whatever, but I don't really believe it.

Does it work or not?

Aren't ice baths meant to be harmful in the long run?

Ice baths inhibit recovery by reducing blood flow. Massage is best for recovery

I've read in a couple places over the years that spending a little time with your feet elevated over your head is good for your heart. And I know a massage therapist who is a fan of it for your leg muscles's benefit. Like you say, it feels good and doesn't hurt anything.

Your body relies on skeletal muscles contracting around blood vessels to push veinous blood back up to your heart. This doesn't really happen in your feet, so blood ends up pooling there. This is why your feet swell when you've been on your feet for a long time. When you elevate your feet, all that pooled blood is allowed to flow out of your feet.

This is why it feels good to elevate your legs. I don't see the connection to ice baths.

No. Don't put your legs up against a wall.

A cold whirlpool for your legs is good for recovery.

Not an ice bath.

Star wrote:

No. Don't put your legs up against a wall.

A cold whirlpool for your legs is good for recovery.

Not an ice bath.

That's what I do. They dump ice and the whirlpool dissolves it. I recover pretty fast from workouts along from getting stretched out by the trainers at my school.

I do it it feels really good.

Star wrote:

No. Don't put your legs up against a wall.

A cold whirlpool for your legs is good for recovery.

Not an ice bath.

Incorrect, ice constricts blood vessels, reduces blood flow.

Inflammation is a good thing, helps with repairing muscles. Ice baths/whirlpools reduce inflammation, therefore no good for recovery.

Should note, ice is important for specific injuries (i.e sore ankle).

Lactic acid IS NOT going to go to "the lowest point" of your body. So putting your legs up, propping on an inversion table, etc will not reduce lactic acid buildup. The only way to make muscles feel better is to flush the acid out by lifting or exerciser the affected muscle(s) LIGHTLY. Pump up and flush out.

Putting your legs up does reduce temporary swelling.....just not lactic acid buildup.

brickrunnin wrote:

Star wrote:

No. Don't put your legs up against a wall.

A cold whirlpool for your legs is good for recovery.

Not an ice bath.

Incorrect, ice constricts blood vessels, reduces blood flow.

Inflammation is a good thing, helps with repairing muscles. Ice baths/whirlpools reduce inflammation, therefore no good for recovery.

Should note, ice is important for specific injuries (i.e sore ankle).

^This.

Did Wallace Spearmon Jr. start this myth?

It is not used to drain lactic acid or circulatory reasons but it does help if you have Lymphedema of the ankles .

thenoticeman wrote:

LilUziWorshipper wrote:

My coach tells us this will help our legs feel fresher for races or whatever, but I don't really believe it.

Does it work or not?

Aren't ice baths meant to be harmful in the long run?

Ask Meb if ice baths are harmful.

If you think it helps then it helps, if you don't think it will help them it won't