What is Cryotherapy?​
Cryotherapy is a treatment where we expose our guests to freezing cold temperatures for no more than 4 minutes.
But how does it really work?
Once inside the cryochamber, our bodies go into fight or flight mode. This causes blood to be sent to the core. Blood is then re-oxygenated and targets areas in need of recovery. The chamber drops the outer layer of the skin 30-50 degrees, in order to receive these AMAZING benefits. Cryotherapy has become extremely popular because of how many of our guests enjoy when the conditions they’re suffering from are recovered! With that being said, whole body cryotherapy (WBC) is used by athletes, the elderly, and pretty much anyone seeking recovery and overall, well-being improvements.
HISTORY
The father of cryotherapy is a man called Dr. Yamaguchi, of Japan. He first started using freezing treatments on his patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 1978. Dr. Yamaguchi noticed a huge reduction in soreness and joint pain following the drastic temperature decrease of the outer layer of his patient’s skin. His patients experienced a release of endorphins as another result of the drastically decreased temperatures, leading to reduced pain, bringing us to our first benefit.
1. Pain Management
Cryotherapy is an AMAZING way to keep our guests feeling great. It is used for anyone seeking pain relief on a daily basis. Soreness, muscle pain & inflammation, are just a few examples of struggles that guests have been able to manage with WBC.
2. General Health & Wellness
Some of the best parts about whole body cryotherapy is it can literally benefit EVERYONE! Keeping our bodies healthy is important. Strong immune systems, consistent sleep cycles, and healthy skin are all needed in order to keep us going. With that being said, we use WBC successfully to improve our guest’s overall health. A stronger immune system, better sleep, increased mood, and energy are just a few ways it helps with keeping guests bodies happy and healthy!
3. Beauty & Aesthetics
Cryotherapy is used to effectively enhance metabolism, tighten the skin, provide a glowing complexion, and jumpstart collagen production. Therefore, Cryotherapy is perfect for guests looking for a more youthful look, or solutions to any skin/hair/nails, or metabolism issues!
4. Depression & Anxiety
The freezing cold air used causes the brain to release a higher-than normal level of endorphins and other “feel-good” hormones. Many guests report enhanced mood and increased energy because of the increased endorphins and adrenaline levels after a session, thanks to cryotherapy.
5. Anti-Inflammatory
Using this cold treatment consistently helps cool down inflammatory conditions such as fibromyalgia, psoriasis, and arthritis. Chronic pain, redness, swelling, or stiffness are caused by the body’s natural response to an injury. Because WBC enhances the body’s natural healing mechanisms, it is a highly recommended anti-inflammatory treatment!
6. Anti-Aging
Once skin is covered by cooling temperatures, it “jumpstarts” the body’s natural healing and rejuvenation processes. This includes increased blood flow, giving our guests a youthful look, and activates collagen production, which is what gives us firm, healthy skin!
7. Increased Metabolism
After sending your body into “fight or flight” mode, cryotherapy “tricks” your body sensors into having the same response it would as if you were actually freezing. Therefore, your body works harder to heat and transfer blood, resulting in an increased metabolism and calorie loss. In conclusion, it’s been reported that 500-800 calories are burned during, and after your Cryo session!Â
8. Better Sleep
Sleep is an important part of our overall general health and wellness. Most of us know that getting a good night’s rest is important, but not enough of us actually make those eight hours between the sheets a priority. Cryotherapy gives our bodies a melatonin release which allows guests to relax and rest fully throughout the night, leaving them prepared for the next day!
9. Post-Surgery
After surgery, there’s a recovery period where we have to deal with bruising, swelling and the worst of all, pain. This healing process isn’t easy. WBC has proven to be an exceptional recovery solution that speeds up and manages post-op stress, pain relief from an operation, reduce inflammation, boosting the immune system, and more!
10. Post-Workout
The freezing therapy has been a recovery tool for quite some time in the fields of sports medicine. As cryotherapy becomes more popular, runners, gym rats, and athletes, are also adopting it for speedy recovery from exertion, soreness, and other exercise-related symptoms.
11. Alzheimer's Disease
Whole body cryotherapy appears to be able to help mitigate and manage neuroinflammation, while also improving cognitive function in those with mild cognitive impairment, which typically precedes dementia. The effects on neuroinflammation might also make WBC applicable to other neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer’s disease.Â
12. Migraines
It is no secret as to why cryotherapy is helping guests who suffer from chronic migraines. The use of freezing temperatures cools the head and neck shrinking the blood vessels, and finally, reducing inflammation and sensitivity to light.
13. Bursitis "Tennis Elbow"
“Bursae” are fluid sacs that act as a pillow between bones, joints, muscles and tendons. Once Bursae are inflamed, the result is extreme pain in areas such as elbows, ankles, knees, shoulders, hips, and thighs in a condition called Bursitis. Usually, people treat this condition at home with ice packs, rest, and painkillers. Medical treatments may require steroids and antibiotics. But thanks to whole body cryotherapy, guests can be relieved from this pain and inflammation instantly!
In summary, whole body cryotherapy is a revolution in the field of wellness and sports medicine, offering a multitude of benefits ranging from pain relief to improved sleep quality, along with notable aesthetic effects and a significant contribution to the management of chronic and neurodegenerative conditions. By harnessing the power of extreme cold, this innovative therapy stimulates the body’s natural healing processes, promotes better blood circulation, reduces inflammation, and speeds up recovery. Whether it’s for athletes looking to optimize their recovery, individuals battling chronic pain, or those simply wishing to enhance their overall well-being, cryotherapy offers a promising and effective solution. With roots dating back to Japan in the 1970s, this practice has evolved and proven its effectiveness across a wide range of applications, thus marking its footprint as an important pillar in the field of holistic health and wellness.
