Experts in sports physiotherapy jobs have often advised athletes to take ice baths, but new research suggests that they may do more harm than good in the long term.

As reported by The Daily Mail, scientists from the English Institute of Sport have discovered that it could limit the growth and strengthening of muscle fibres, which would be detrimental to training.

Athletes are told that an ice bath helps the body return to normal after a workout, and they can see the benefits. Andy Murray and Paula Radcliffe are two examples of famous athletes that have spoken about the benefits of an ice bath.

The theory was that ice baths reduce the blood in tired legs and when they're warmed up, fresh oxygenated blood floods the body and invigorates the muscles.

It's thought the ice bath will remain popular during competitions, as it's still the most effective way of minimising damage to the body after intense exercise. However, the ice bath might be banned from training from now on. Physiologist Jonathan Leeder told The Times: "Long-term use of the strategy could be detrimental to performance."

Mr Leeder also revealed that there is evidence to suggest that the body becomes more tolerant of ice baths, so they can become less effective.

According to Seek4media.com, rugby team the Wasps have dropped ice baths for the first time. Crofton Alexander, the Wasps' strength and conditioning coach, said the team were told about how ice baths could be detrimental and they were abandoned.