Unless if you’re a health, wellness and fitness buff, you might not know what contrast therapy is. Contrast therapy, also known as hot and cold therapy or contrast bath therapy, is a treatment method that involves alternating between the application of heat and cold to the body. This cold-warm therapy technique is commonly used to reduce pain, inflammation and muscle soreness.

A hot and cold therapy device will first apply heat directly to a section of the body, like your knee or your shoulder. This helps dilate blood vessels, increase blood flow and relax muscles. Then, the hot-cold therapy device gets cold and cools down that particular area of your body, which reduces blood flow while numbing the area. By alternating between hot and cold, contrast therapy can potentially help bring in oxygen and nutrients to promote healing, which is why it is right up there with the best tech gadgets for workout recovery.

Workout recovery is crucial for muscle repair and growth, preventing injuries, restoring energy and of course, reducing muscle soreness.

Cold-warm therapy can help enhance circulation because alternating between hot and cold creates a pumping effect in the blood vessels, which also helps promote the removal of waste products from the muscles. This can be particularly appealing if you are strength training, however, enhanced circulation also can benefit cardio exercises, like running on a treadmill or using an elliptical machine.

The alternating temperatures of hot and cold therapy can also provide pain relief by addressing both muscle stiffness (with the heat) and inflammation (with the cold). This makes contrast therapy one of the most versatile approaches for managing various types of pain. So, if you can make time for exercise, you can make time for hot-cold therapy.

You don’t have to just limit yourself to a contrast therapy device. Percussive massagers can also help with muscle soreness and circulation while foam rollers and yoga equipment can be used to enhance flexibility and improve range of motion. The key is figuring out what works best for you. After all, when you are investing in hot and cold therapy devices and other workout gadgets, you are also investing in yourself and your overall wellbeing.