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Research reveals cold plunges reduce muscle growth by up to 20%

Ellsworth Toohey
Jun 04, 2025
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Michele Ursi/shutterstock.com

Ice baths after weightlifting may prevent muscle growth, disrupting the gains lifters hope to achieve.

A study from Maastricht University tracked what happens in muscles after cold plunges, revealing that icy water significantly reduces blood flow and protein absorption — key factors in muscle recovery. The researchers monito…

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