What's the best time to shower after working out? We asked an expert
This content is brought to you in partnership with OrthoCarolina, one of the nation’s leading orthopedic practices with offices across the Southeast.
Imagine that you just finished up your workout. You've worked up a sweat, for sure. Do you head straight for a shower, or do you wait? And whichever your "go-to" answer to that question is, is it the answer that's best for your health?
We asked the experts at the OrthoCarolina Hickory Physical Therapy Center when is the best time to shower after working out — here's what they had to say.
RULE #1: DON'T SKIP YOUR COOL-DOWN
Be honest: How often do you actually incorporate a cool-down into your workout routine? Hopefully, the answer is "more often than not," because this step is crucial to post-workout recovery, preventing injury, and avoiding soreness!
Your cool-down should start by decreasing from whatever your exercise of choice was to a less vigorous form of that exercise — for instance, if you just ran for 30 minutes, your cool-down might start with 5-10 minutes of walking. This will give your heart rate a chance to slow down.
After your heart rate has come down, be sure to take some intentional time to stretch out the muscles you just worked (I know, some of you are probably guilty of skipping this step from time to time, too).
All in all, your cool-down should take about 15-25 minutes — so, that's the expert-recommended to time you should wait to shower after exercising!
RULE #2: BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT WATER TEMPERATURE
It might be tempting to jump into a hot, steamy shower to loosen up your muscles, but experts actually recommend starting out with your water at a lukewarm temperature so you don't shock your muscles post-workout.
"Showering is an adjunct to the recovery process that can remove the lactic acid that can be a source of muscle soreness," OrthoCarolina told us. "Start off the shower using warm water and gradually decrease the temperature to cold as you can tolerate."
Let me explain that last line in a little further detail. See, you've warmed up your muscles enough during your workout. Now, you need to clean off your sweat with some lukewarm water and antibacterial soap (no clogged pores here!) to start — but then, you ideally want to spend the last minute of your shower in water as cold as you can stand it, targeting the muscle groups you worked during your exercising that day in order (your muscles are tired, and the cold water can help to energize and refresh them!).
RULE #3: IF YOU DON'T HAVE TIME FOR A SHOWER, AT LEAST TOWEL OFF
Working up a sweat is a great thing for your body, but allowing that sweat to pool or to sit on your skin for extended periods of time can lead to clogged pores, which can lead to things like acne.
So, if you find yourself in a time crunch after your cool-down, at least be sure to use a clean, dry towel to dry the sweat off of your body post-workout. In the areas where you get particularly sweaty (chest, back, underarms) try using some anti-bacterial wipes that are safe for skin. If you have any facial cleansing wipes, use those to clean your face after your workout, as well.
Last but not least, be sure to change out of your sweaty workout clothes into some fresh garments, and to wash your hands thoroughly before you go about the rest of your day.
LEARN MORE ABOUT MAKING HEALTHY CHOICES FROM THE EXPERTS AT ORTHOCAROLINA
Whether you’ve recently experienced an injury, need help with recovery after tough workouts, or are simply experiencing chronic pain and need help managing it, OrthoCarolina can help. Make an appointment at a location near you to start getting the treatment you need.