Sauna or Swimming

**Asriel** · Posted On: 6/27/2008 11:35am

Where I train BJJ I have the choice of having a Sauna and/or a quick dip in the ultra cold Pool after training.

What do you think would be best for helping prevent sore/aching muscles the next day? I thought it would have been the cold water but someone at work keeps telling me it's a sauna and I've started doubting.

So what do you think?

**BudoMonkey** · Posted On: 6/27/2008 11:36am

Go for a swim. I've heard cold water is good for muscles after a hard workout.

EDIT: And because saunas are fucking boring. I don't know how people do that.

**DannyMac** · Posted On: 6/27/2008 11:57am

Nothing conclusive here, but I think you might find it interesting:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_soreness

My personal opinion is that I wouldn't do anything that takes more water out of my muscles.

**BudoMonkey** · Posted On: 6/27/2008 11:59am

Right. I don't know how on earth going to the sauna would be a good idea.

**BackFistMonkey** · Posted On: 6/27/2008 12:29pm

I vote swim .

I swim every chance I get , as long as it isn't in a public pool or the staph infected lake which used to a thriving valley community before they dammed it .

Swimming just makes me feel good . Well honestly it gets me high as hell . I hear runners talk about how endurance running gets them high . One hundred meters of freestyle or breaststroke and then some free time to just swim and float will get me content , happy, and giddy through out the next day .

**PirateJon** · Posted On: 6/27/2008 12:33pm

Fucking both. hot-cold-hot-cold is better for recovery than either alone.

**BackFistMonkey** · Posted On: 6/27/2008 12:37pm

Originally Posted by PirateJon

Fucking both. hot-cold-hot-cold is better for recovery than either alone.

Swim first tho ... it will make me feel better if you do .

**OZZ** · Posted On: 6/27/2008 12:47pm

I am a big fan of saunas because it cleans out my pores and makes me feel great. It is cleansing.
As for muscle soreness, I am guessing that a cold swim would serve you better, though.

**Sakmongkol** · Posted On: 6/27/2008 1:53pm

For rugby in sixth form when we toured SA and had a group of big games in a relatively short space of time we had ice baths after the game.

I found it actually helped somewhat with muscle soreness but in general it was best at just removing the odd niggle you had picked up in the game.

**BudoMonkey** · Posted On: 6/27/2008 2:01pm

Originally Posted by Sakmongkol

removing the odd niggle

No need to get all Dr.Seuss on us. What the hell is an odd niggle?

EDIT- Actually, it sounds more like a term the main character from 'clockwork orange' would use.