Power Athlete Radio Ep 834: The Truth About Hot & Cold Therapy w/ Dr Tom Seager
Nov 14, 2025
Dr. Tom Seager, PhD, specializes in environmental stress physiology and delves into the science of hot and cold therapy. He reveals how thermal exposure can enhance recovery and boost metabolism. The conversation touches on effective protocols for cold immersion, the myth of cold plunges hindering muscle gains, and the intriguing benefits for sexual health. Seager also highlights the role of cold exposure in managing fat, building resilience, and its potential neurological impacts, all while emphasizing practical starting tips for beginners.
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Pre-Cool Workouts For Performance
- Pre-cool workouts instead of ice-bathing immediately after if your goal is hypertrophy.
- Cold before exercise can boost peak power, delay fatigue, and speed recovery.
Cold As A Metabolic Booster
- Cold therapy improves mitochondrial function and stimulates mitobiogenesis across the body.
- Those metabolic benefits can outweigh small, short-term blunting of hypertrophy for many people.
Use Gasp And Shiver To Guide Progress
- Start cold exposures cold enough to elicit a gasp and stay long enough to shiver initially.
- Progress temperature and duration relative to your acclimation rather than fixed universal times.
