New research this week appears to throw cold water on the Wim Hof Method, an endurance training method that intentionally exposes people to cold temperatures. The study, a review of the scientific literature, did find some evidence that the approach may have anti-inflammatory properties, but did not find strong data to support any other putative benefits, such as better athletic performance.
The method is named after Wim Hof, a Dutch athlete and motivational speaker who achieved some extraordinary achievements under extreme conditions. According to reports, Hough, nicknamed “Iceman”, once ran a half-marathon (13.1 miles) above the Arctic Circle barefoot, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in shorts, and soaked in ice water for nearly two hours.Critics have censored He claimed to have achieved something, but he still Officially recognized Won 18 Guinness World Records.
Hof has long attributed his endurance and general health to the eponymous method, which combines cold water immersion with specific breathing and meditation techniques. And there have been some empirical attempts to test his claims. The authors of the new study, publish On Wednesday, the journal PLOS-One reviewed data from nine such studies, including eight trials. Overall, the verdict was decidedly hesitant.
The review found that the approach may reduce inflammation in both healthy and unhealthy individuals, possibly by increasing levels of adrenaline in the body, for example. But studies on whether the approach actually improves someone’s athletic performance “show mixed results.” The authors note that even positive results should be taken with a grain of salt, as most studies are considered to have a high risk of bias and are often considered to be of poor quality for a variety of reasons, such as small sample sizes and inability to acclimate participants. Know if they use this method (without good blinding, factors such as the placebo effect can easily influence the results).
Despite these important caveats, the authors attempted to describe their results in the best possible way, noting that the Wim Hof method “may have promising immunomodulatory effects, but more higher-quality studies are needed to confirm this.” A discovery.” But outside experts have been more vocal in their criticism of the study’s implications.
Mike Tipton, professor of human and applied physiology at the University of Portsmouth in the UK and an expert on cold water survival, said: “As the review reveals, the science is too weak/biased to conclude what Wim Hof’s method was. results achieved.” Tell CNN.
This approach can also be risky.There have been multiple deaths Might be related to practice. In December 2022, the family of California teenager Madeline Rose Metzger be accused Wim Hof claims that his breathing techniques contributed to the accidental drowning death of 17-year-old Madelyn earlier that summer (the case appears to still be open). Tipton said people with certain health conditions, such as asthma, high blood pressure and a history of epilepsy, are not advised to immerse themselves in cold water.
A spokesperson for Wim Hof and his organization told CNN they recognize the need for higher-quality research to validate the method’s claimed benefits and are committed to “working with the scientific community to conduct larger, more inclusive studies.” , to solve these problems.” worries. “