Effect of length of cold showers on skin temperatures and exercise heart rate.

Abstract This study was an attempt to determine what length cold shower at 64 F might be necessary to achieve a significant reduction in heart rate cost of exercise, and whether such a reduction might be related to the lowered skin temperature achieved through the shower. In phase one 10 subjects walked on a treadmill under four different conditions at a work load requiring an exercise heart rate of approximately 170/ min. The conditions were control and 3-, 6-, and 9- min. cold showers. Analysis of variance showed significantly lower exercise heart rates after all three shower conditions, but those after the 9-min. shower were significantly lower than after 3 min. Recovery heart rates were not significantly different. In phase two, mean skin temperatures of five subjects were measured before and at 5-min. intervals for 30 min. following 3-, 6-, and 9- min. showers. Statistical and graphical analysis indicated that: (a) the overall shower effect caused the skin temperature to be significantly below contro...