Researchers warm to effectiveness of ice baths

For most of past century, soccer players, athletes and other footballers would cool down by warming up.

The hot bath after a game was an unquestioned ritual.

More recently, the hot water has been replaced by cold.

Athletes know that in the days after great physical exertion, their muscles get sore, but they believe that pain will be lessened if they immerse themselves in ice cold water immediately after exercising.

And now, an international team of researchers has confirmed the effectiveness of cold water immersion therapy in stopping muscle pain.

Some in the field, however, are still sceptical.

"It tends to be effective, at least compared to other means that are used. Maybe not in terms of a specifically strong sense but at least in the way that's meaningful," said Professor Ty Hopkins from Brigham Young University in the US state of Utah.

Professor Hopkins, who specialises in sports medicine and exercise science, was one of the authors of the study into the effectiveness of cold water immersion therapy.

"Not only did the subjects feel better but there were actually signs that tissue damage was decreased," he said.

In their review, the authors compared 17 small trials involving 366 people.

They included people who were asked to get into cold water after running, cycling and resistance training.

And they found a significant reduction in muscle soreness in the four days after exercise.

"Maybe for those who border on endurance sports and higher workout times at least or intensities, they might dabble into it and see how it works for them," Professor Hopkins said.

He says any water under 15 degrees Celsius will be somewhat effective.

"And the time can really vary depending on the tissues," he said.

Importantly, the study did not compare the effects of cold water with other interventions like light jogging or using compression stockings, so the researchers cannot say which technique would be the most effective.

They also cannot say what harmful side effects might flow from cold water immersion.

"Certainly some people could be hypersensitive to cold which could allow them to have a skin or even an allergic type of reaction," Professor Hopkins said.

There is also the risk that the therapy simply will not work at all.

Dr Shane Brun, an Associate Professor of musculoskeletal and sports medicine at James Cook University, says most of the studies are poor quality.

"There's not a lot of evidence so far that cold water immersion does a lot for physical benefits of people using it," he said.

Dr Brun says placebo effect may be playing a role.

"Without a doubt, a significant aspect of how well an athlete performs is basically what's going on between their ears," he said.

"If an athlete has confidence, belief, mental strength, that has a significant impact in how they perform."

That does not mean Dr Brun wants athletes to steer clear of the technique.

"If you were to ask me, what I prefer an athlete doing ice water baths or using anabolic steroids it's an open misere, I mean my answer's going to be jump in a cold bath rather than take any supplements," he said.

Dr Brun says in many cases, all that matters is that the athlete believes the cold water is doing them good.

He says the same can be said for stretching after exercise.

The physical evidence suggests stretching does not do much to help the body recover, but if you believe it is helping, then it probably will.

Oscars Sore Loser?

Daniel Radcliffe seems to have no trouble speaking his mind these days.

Recently, the “Harry Potter” actor called out the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for failing to honor the final installment of the box-office juggernaut. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2″ will compete for just three awards, all in technical categories, at the Academy Awards held later this month.

“I don’t think the Oscars like commercial films, or kids’ films, unless they’re directed by Martin Scorsese,” Radcliffe said, referring to Scorsese’s “Hugo,” which leads the nominations with 11. “I was watching ‘Hugo’ the other day and going, ‘Why is this nominated and we’re not?’ I was slightly miffed.”

“There’s a certain amount of snobbery,” Radcliffe added. “It’s kind of disheartening. I never thought I’d care. But it would’ve been nice to have some recognition, just for the hours put in.”

Six of the eight “Potter” films have been nominated for Oscars — all in technical categories — but the franchise, which grossed nearly $8 billion worldwide, has yet to earn a single Academy award.

Radcliffe, who has been promoting his latest film, “The Woman in Black,” has also come clean about his wild past while working on “Harry Potter.” He recently told Heat magazine, “I can honestly say I never drank at work on ’Harry Potter.’ I went into work still drunk, but I never drank at work … I can point to many scenes where I’m just gone. Dead behind the eyes.”

His admission that he’d given up alcohol was already widely known, but lately the 22-year-old actor has been explaining just how bad his drinking problem really got. In an interview with the UK’s Daily Mirror, he admitted that while drinking heavily, he sometimes had one-night stands with groupies, though he added that he preferred sleeping with girls he knew.

“I mean, that has happened,” Radcliffe told the paper about fooling around with fans. “But generally speaking I’ve known the person. Apart from a few times when I was drinking.”

Another reason to stay home if you're sick

Why do we do this? Why do we insist on coming to work when we're coughing, achy, got a runny nose and wondering when

the fever is going to kick in? New research confirms what you probably know is the right thing but refuse to do: Just

stay in bed.

Those who do drag themselves in sick probably think their bosses will notice their dedication and consider them hard

workers. But new research from Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, shows that our bosses shouldn't be too

impressed. The study was supported by Afexa Life Sciences, the makers of a cold and flu treatment.

The researchers looked at the results of more than 80 studies, representing the work of more than 300 researchers at

more than 100 universities and institutions.

The results? Stay home. Yes, 83 percent of Americans say they will show up to work even if they have flu-like

symptoms. But the researchers say the loss in productivity from a worker who shows up sick -- the working wounded, as

it were -- is twice the productivity loss that they experience when a worker stays home. After all, those who come in

sick don't get as much done as they think they will, and quite often infect their colleagues.

The researchers also found that:

1. One-third of Canadians report a sore throat, cold or flu in any given month. Symptoms are more common in women

than in men.

2. Women are more likely to go see a doctor than men are.

3. One-fifth of people ignore their symptoms altogether

4. Cold remedies and prescription antibiotics don't do much good. The researchers found that, for the most part,

these remedies neither "ameliorate symptoms nor change the course of illness."

And while the study found that co-workers do frequently pass their illnesses along to each other, school-aged kids

are much more active in spreading disease. The Queens researchers say school-aged children "have been shown to

introduce rhinovirus [the primary cause of the common cold] infections into their families three times more often

than working adults."

SDI, a research agency that tracks colds and flu in North America found an annual spike in colds and flu within the

first two weeks of students' return to school each fall.

Why You Need to Avoid Catching a Summer Cold

Your beach bag is packed, your swimsuit beckons and your calendar is full of fun plans for barbecues and backyard parties. But if you’re stuck inside with a miserable cold, you’re probably wondering what the heck happened.

And to make things worse, summer colds often last longer and have a higher chance of recurring, according to Dr. Bruce Hirsch, attending physician for infectious diseases at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, N.Y.

"The summer cold is really kind of tricky," Hirsch said, "probably because the viruses that cause it [can be] different than a winter cold. Something about it is awful and insidious."

Professional says a five-minute exam may be lifesaving

During April, which is Oral Cancer Awareness Month, California dentist Louis Amendola recommends that individuals visit their dental health providers to receive a five-minute screening that can detect any signs of the condition.

"Comprehensive dental examinations that include a screening for oral cancer will save lives," Amendola said.

During these screenings, Amendola explained that a professional will visually survey a patient's mouth for any abnormal swelling or discoloration, as well as injuries to cheeks, gums, tongue or throat. Dentists may also feel the area underneath an individual's jaw bone for any growths, he added.

While April may serve as a reminder for patients to receive their annual screenings, Amendola noted that people should seek an evaluation any time they experience cold sores or lesions on any surface within their mouths that do not heal themselves within two weeks.

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, more than 36,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer each year and upwards of 7,000 die from the disease. Individuals who are diagnosed while the cancer is still localized have an 83 percent rate of survival, according to the organization.