30/11/2025

ON SUNDAY November 30, 2025 X theSunday Special

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Your post-workout shower can make or break muscle health and overall performance Hot or cold after your workout BY AQILAH NAJWA JAMALUDDIN

Choose your shower based on the intensity of your workout and how your body feels.”

S HOWERING after a workout might just be the best part of the entire session. There’s nothing TXLWH OLNH ULQVLQJ R̆ WKH VZHDW grime and post-exercise haze to feel fresh again. But have you ever considered that the temperature of your VKRZHU FRXOG DFWXDOO\ D̆ HFW KRZ ZHOO \RXU body recovers? While we’re all aware of the importance RI WUDFNLQJ FDUEV ZDWFKLQJ VXJDU LQWDNH and tailoring exercise routines to suit our LQGLYLGXDO QHHGV ZKDW KDSSHQV DIWHU \RX ¿QLVK WUDLQLQJ FDQ EH MXVW DV FUXFLDO Your post-workout shower isn’t just a ULWXDO RI VHOI FDUH ± LW SOD\V D VLJQL¿FDQW role in supporting muscle health and recovery. W LWKRXW SURSHU UHFRYHU\ WKH ULVN RI RYHUXVH LQMXULHV VXFK DV WHQGLQLWLV PXVFOH VWUDLQ RU MRLQW SDLQ LQFUHDVHV VLJQL¿FDQWO\ “This is more prominent in high LQWHQVLW\ ZRUNRXWV VXFK DV &URVV)LW WUDLO UXQQLQJ +\UR[ WUDLQLQJ DQG DPRQJ UXJE\ SOD\HUV ´ H[SODLQHG 'U -DVPL]D .KX]DLUL ELQ -DVPH FRQVXOWDQW VSRUWV SK\VLFLDQ DW Sunway Medical Centre. “ ,Q OLJKWHU IRUPV RI H[HUFLVH WKH ULVN LV ORZHU EXW UHFRYHU\ VKRXOG VWLOO EH SULRULWLVHG ´ So before you plunge into an ice bath RU JHW VZHSW XS LQ WKH VDXQD FUD]H WDNH a moment to understand your body type and the level of recovery your muscles truly need. That simple choice could be WKH GL̆ HUHQFH EHWZHHQ SURJUHVV DQG SDLQ

Hot shower A FFRUGLQJ WR -DVPL]D KRW VKRZHUV DUH particularly suitable after lighter forms of H[HUFLVH VXFK DV D EULVN ZDON SLFNOHEDOO EDGPLQWRQ \RJD RU VWUHWFKLQJ RU RQ GD\V when relaxation is the main goal. “ +RW VKRZHUV SURPRWH UHOD[DWLRQ 7KH KHDW GLODWHV EORRG YHVVHOV LPSURY ing circulation and helping muscles to UHOD[ 7KLV FDQ UHGXFH VWL̆ QHVV DQG PDNH post-workout stretching or mobility work HDVLHU ´ KH VDLG For many Malaysians who engage in ORZHU LQWHQVLW\ DFWLYLWLHV OLNH 3LODWHV OLJKW UHVLVWDQFH WUDLQLQJ RU UHJXODU ZDONLQJ KRW VKRZHUV FDQ DOVR R̆ HU PRUH VRRWKLQJ DQG UHVWRUDWLYH H̆ HFWV They may also support stress relief – an often overlooked but essential element of recovery. For individuals with underlying condi tions such as hypertension or cardiovas FXODU GLVHDVH H[WUHPH H[SRVXUH WR KHDW or cold is not always advisable without medical guidance. I Q VXFK FDVHV D ZDUP VKRZHU DIWHU exercise is often a more suitable option for supporting both muscle recovery and overall well-being. T KRVH ZLWK DVWKPD PD\ DOVR EHQH¿W IURP D KRW VKRZHU DIWHU D ZRUNRXW DV LW can help regulate body temperature and DLG EUHDWKLQJ +RZHYHU -DVPL]D DGYLVHG moderation. “ +RW VKRZHUV DUH JHQHUDOO\ VDIH IRU people with asthma. But sudden exposure

Alternating between warm and cool water may help support circulation.