But Gold Coast-based exercise physiologist Louise Ferguson it there to fix injuries rather than inflict pain.

Ferguson will be on the Border for 10 days — at the Albury grass courts and then at the Victorian Grasscourt titles in Wodonga.

Players fresh from the court jump into temperature-controlled blow-up baths — just five minutes is enough in the 10 degree chill.

Then it’s a series of stretches with the tubes to flush out the lactic acid, a massage and possibly taping some niggles.

“There is still a little bit of mystery about sports recovery,” she said.

“A lot of people still believe you only get help when you are injured, but this keeps players fresher and on court longer.

“And now a lot of coaches are switching on to the importance of the quality of the recovery.”

Ferguson said Australian-developed and made equipment kept the ice baths at a constant temperature.

“These baths have been developed by a group on the Gold Coast because the old-fashioned method of throwing ice into the water was a bit hit and miss,” she said.

“These baths lower the body’s core temperature, process lactic acid faster and hasten recovery.”