Olympic demand for ‘unproven’ ice therapy is unsustainable, scientists say

The use of ice – for cold-water immersion and ice baths – has reached ‘extraordinary levels’, academics said. Photograph: Edgar Barragan Juarez/Getty Images

From cold-water swimming to ice baths, deliberately freezing yourself has been hailed as a panacea for everything from menopause symptoms to arthritis, headaches and immunity conditions.

And for sportspeople, ice is widely used to aid recovery after exercise. But now researchers have said the clinical benefits of ice therapy are not evidence-based and its popularity is bad for the environment.