Recovery is becoming an increasingly important component for the high-performance athlete in an effort to reduce fatigue and improve performance.
Recent studies suggested that heat acclimation by post-exercise hot water immersion (HWI) on six consecutive days reduces thermal strain and improves exercise performance during heat stress.
Cold water immersion (CWI) instead significantly reduces the effects of sore muscles and perceived exertion. Which make it a very good tool for short-term recovery.
BUT don't forget that fast recovery may impair long-term adaptations, so before using an ice bath, for example, ask yourself what is your goal. Are your goal short therm rather than long term? Then, if the answer is yes hydrotherapy could a good strategy.