Resources — Athletic Training

Athletic training rooms have evolved considerably over the past several decades. Today's schools, colleges, universities, sports medicine clinics, rehabilitation centers, and professional sports organizations often rely on a combination of therapeutic hydrotherapy and cold water immersion equipment to support athlete recovery, rehabilitation, and return-to-play programs. Two of the most common categories of equipment are therapeutic whirlpools and commercial cold plunge tanks. Although both involve water-based treatment, they serve different purposes and are frequently used as complementary tools within athletic training and rehabilitation facilities. This guide explains the differences between therapeutic whirlpools and commercial cold tanks, discusses when each may be...