Can cold therapy help with warming up?

Cold therapy before exercise, referred to as "pre cooling," can actually enhance performance. According to Tom Seager, PhD, this method increases peak muscle power and endurance by protecting the mitochondria and boosting testosterone levels. This is known as the pre cooling effect and has been studied for performance enhancement at institutions like Stanford University 1.

Furthermore, Mike Mutzel shares that cold therapy can improve exercise performance and fat oxidation when used before workouts. He mentions needing less caffeine or pre-workout supplements and experiencing better strength and alertness during exercise sessions following cold exposure 2.

Thus, while it might seem counterintuitive, cold therapy prior to exercise can indeed help with warming up by enhancing overall performance and readiness.