Over the last 25 years, information about Cryotherapy has been circulating in the sports medicine and physical therapy industries as a great way to aid in muscle recovery and reduce inflammation. Cryotherapy has been the newest recovery treatment for professional athletes and regular Joe’s who are hitting the gym. Cryotherapy gives you the benefits of a 30-minute ice bath in 3 minutes. The benefits are undeniable and after you feel refreshed, energized and most importantly pain is eased.
Applying something cold to an injury or ache has been an accepted medical treatment for centuries. Localized Cryotherapy dates to the 1600s, with the Greek term “cryo” meaning “cold,” and “therapy” meaning “cure.” However, it wasn’t until the 1970s that whole body cryotherapy was introduced in Japan, primarily to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Doctors noticed that by rapidly cooling the surface of the skin (using liquid nitrogen in a cryotherapy tank), joint pain and soreness decreased.
Whole Body Cryotherapy is exposure to subzero temperatures. Extreme cold stimulates skin sensors activating a central nervous system response. This causes the release of endorphins, the body’s natural pain inhibitors and mood elevators, while the enhanced circulation activity (blood movement into and out of the core) decreases inflammation by clearing toxins and metabolic waste with a supply of oxygen and nutrient-rich bold to stimulate cellular regeneration (faster healing). At the end of the whole body cryotherapy machine treatment, the normal body temperature will gradually be restored and as a result, normal blood flow is enhanced with the now enriched blood cells flooding the previously tired limbs.
Whole-body cryotherapy has benefits that surpass just easing pain, reducing inflammation and speeding up recovery. Cryotherapy is also great for stress-related conditions, such as anxiety, depression and insomnia. As well as burning 500-800 calories after your cryotherapy session you will feel energized and ready to complete your next workout. All these benefits packed into a 3-minute treatment, which makes is cold, really sensible.
