Yes, the numbing effect of ice takes away pain, but as a fix for muscle damage there’s no evidence that it helps, says a new study. Indeed, icing before participating in sports can have a negative effect, reducing proprioception and diminishing both strength and power. It’s not clear exactly why, but “the most likely reason is that ice reduces nerve conduction velocity,” said one of the researchers. The takeaway? Most athletes we know only ice themselves after they’ve completed their game/workout/activity, and for post-effort relief it’s still effective. As for further-reaching conclusions, more study is needed.

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