Hydrotherapy#Contrast hydrotherapy

Under a change of shower is defined as the multiple alternating showers with hot and cold water, a kind of simplified Kneipp hydrotherapy.

Effect

Contrast showers are often said to have a stimulating effect in the press. Vessels would be trained to expand rapidly and contract again, so you do not feel cold, especially in winter so fast ( Resilience ). The skin blood flow will increase and they 'll firmer. Low blood pressure will increase. The immune system may be strengthened, similarly to the sauna. Contrast showers are therefore to prevent colds.

Some studies have concluded that chronic bronchitis actually enters a certain hardening effect in the form of an increased number of lymphocytes in the blood and a decrease of infections in patients. There is also evidence that contrast showers the process of recovery of athletes after exercise are beneficial. Contrast showers are still rarely used therapeutically in medicine and are now more representative of the wellness area assigned to. Occasionally they find against hypotension or in elderly care application. Individual sports medicine studies suggest a positive effect of cold showers on the recovery of running athletes, cyclists or football players, as well as sore muscles.

History

Contrast baths have been practiced in the Roman Empire ( in spas ), as well as in China and Japan. With Father Sebastian Kneipp from Bad Wörishofen it experienced a renaissance in the 19th century.