In sports therapy, an ice bath, or sometimes cold-water immersion or cold therapy, is a training regimen usually following a period of intense exercise[1][2] in which a substantial part of a human body is immersed in a bath of ice or ice-water for a limited duration. While it is becoming increasingly popular and accepted among athletes in a variety of sports,[3][4][5][6][7] the method is controversial,[8] with a risk of hypothermia,[9] with the possibility of shock[10] leading to sudden death.[9][11][12] Many athletes have used cold water immersion after an intense exercise workout on the belief that it speeds up bodily recovery; however, the internal physical processes are not well understood and remain elusive.[13] Generally research into the health effects of cold water immersion as part of an athletic training regimen is inconclusive,[14] with some studies suggesting a mild benefit such as reducing muscle damage and discomfort[15] and alleviating delayed onset muscle soreness,[16][3][17] with other studies suggesting that cold water immersion may slow muscle growth and interfere with an overall training regimen.[18]