In this brutal summer, a dip in a cool pool sounds inviting. But in water that’s a frosty 45 degrees, cold enough to cause hyperthermia in half an hour?
For a few minutes or less, however, a cold plunge can do wonders for managing chronic pain. It also can help with addiction recovery.
This is where Black Horse Health’s Dr. Paul A. Davis comes in. A Doctor of Chiropractic with more than two decades of practicing physical rehabilitation and chiropractic care, Dr. Davis guides clients through chronic pain management through exercise and treatments including physical therapy, aqua plunge, infrared sauna, chiropractic and massage therapy, movement therapy, and cold plunge.
Cold plunge (a form of cryotherapy) involves immersion in a large bath filled with water chilled to 45 degrees. Initial sessions are usually only seconds long but can progress up to 2 to 10 minutes. The process reduces inflammation, numbs pain signals, and releases endorphins (which can act as natural painkillers and mood enhancers) and dopamine (a “feel-good” transmitter).
For those in treatment for chronic pain, cold plunge therapy can reduce muscle and joint pain, improve mobility, and reduce or eliminate drug dependency.
“It’s not a cure for pain, but a natural way to control pain without taking opiates,” he said.
It also can be effective in treating drug dependency by reducing stress, elevating moods, boosting circulation, and improving metabolism.
In both pain management and recovery, the icy bath is just one of many steps on the path to wellness that Black Horse can individually tailor and construct.
The broad range of physical rehabilitation that Dr. Davis oversees has a tremendous impact. And it starts with increased movement and exercise. Cold plunge is just one potentially healing aspect of physical therapy.
“For people who are here for alcohol and drug recovery, I see how exercise starts to make them feel good again and become happy. For those in chronic pain, I see them get back to being functional – back with their family, looking healthy, and wanting to do things,” he said. “It’s awesome to see people improve mentally and physically. That brings me joy.”
