From pro athletes following the Wim Hof method to mid-life women at the local beach, we can’t get enough of cold-water immersion, with claimed effects including pain reduction, fat loss and lower cardiovascular risk. There’s anecdotal evidence for mental health benefits, too, but so far rigorous studies are few and far between – a fact that led Dr Heather Massey, senior lecturer in sport, health and exercise science at the University of Portsmouth, to investigate the feasibility of conducting a random control trial into the effects of outdoor swimming in adults with depression. Massey and her team are currently analysing the data from that investigation – OUTdoor Swimming as nature-based Intervention for DEpression (OUTSIDE) – but Massey tells Women’s Fitness they showed
