Actually science if moving in the other direction. Sure ice feels good and reduces inflammation, but is that a good thing? There is a reversal in this traditional mindset (still controversial as of now) that questions reducing inflammation in this aspect actually being beneficial. During an injury applying ice blunts the bodies response to heal the affected area. Then the body has to wait for the area to warm up to go back to healing itself. Ice post exercise appears to reduce inflammation that the body would otherwise use to create adaptation. So in theory, the ice is negatively impacting the very benefits that exercise is trying to accomplish.
Inflammation in these contexts is not the devil as it was thought to be, but rather a natural process of the body repairing itself (hopefully building back stronger), so why would you want to inhibit this? However, ice feels so good and takes the pain away (by numbing), so it has to be beneficial right? Not to mention, people claim they “feel” better or are “less sore” after ice use (placebo affect). So I guess one must contend with how they “feel” post ice use versus whats is actually happening physiologically inside the body.