The Effect of Cold Showering on Health and Work: A Randomized Controlled Trial - PMC
A randomized controlled trial tested how routine cold showering affects health and work outcomes in adults. Participants who took daily cold showers for a month had a 29% reduction in sickness‑related work absence compared with those who stuck to warm showers — even though overall illness days didn’t change much.
This study aimed to determine the effect of a routine cold shower on sickness, quality of life, and work productivity. The randomized controlled trial included 3018 participants aged 18-65 without severe comorbidity. Participants were randomized to either a 30, 60, or 90-second cold shower or a control group. The primary outcome was sickness absence from work, while secondary outcomes included quality of life, work productivity, and anxiety. The study found a 29% reduction in sickness absence for the cold shower regimen compared to the control group, but no significant effect on illness days. The duration of the cold shower did not influence the outcome. The most common adverse reaction was persistent cold sensation in the body, hands, and/or feet.
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