Cryotherapy

Updated on September 13, 2021

Cold in moderation can have a positive effect on the human body. It can not only help improve health but also prolong youthfulness. Let’s review what cryotherapy is and why it is necessary.

What is cryotherapy?

To begin with, what is cryotherapy? It is the treatment of the whole body or parts of it with cold.

During such procedures, a person is exposed to low temperatures of up to -160 degrees Celsius.

Cryotherapy is used in a variety of areas. It is used to treat diseases such as:

  • Eczema
  • Acne
  • Stagnant spots with acne
  • Psoriasis
  • Dermatitis
  • Cellulite
  • Minor skin imperfections
  • Hair loss
  • Pharyngitis
  • Rhinitis
  • Chronic tonsillitis
  • Adenoids
  • To improve the condition of the hair
  • Alopecia

Special equipment is used for the procedures. One of them is a cryo-chamber. What is it? It is a special vessel or room where a person is placed. A low temperature is kept there, from -50 to -170 degrees Celsius.

Cryo-sauna for athletes

Cryo-sauna is a modern method of healing the body with cold – it arouses special interest not only among doctors but also among professional athletes. This is because some sports have a high risk of injury. Moreover, cryotherapy sessions help improve the results of training, reduce the consequences of trauma, and speed up recovery after intense physical exertion.

Thanks to this procedure, the recovery period after physical exertion are minimized, making it possible to resume sports activities the very next day after a cryotherapy session. That is the reason why many athletes spend several minutes in the cryo-chamber immediately after the competitions. This allows you to reduce the concentration of lactic acid in the muscle tissues and relieve muscle pain, fatigue, or, conversely, reduce overexcitement and normalize sleep.

Short-term exposure of the body to critical low temperatures promptly increases the production of endorphins, normalizes immune protection, accelerates regenerative processes, improves blood circulation and oxygen supply to cells. Under the influence of the cold, the body starts the process of accelerated recovery of damaged muscles, ligaments, and joints. In addition, the regenerative properties of cryotherapy help in the treatment of complex injuries of the musculoskeletal system, burns, wounds, and various skin diseases.

After a session of cryotherapy, there is a rapid reduction in pain syndrome and a decrease in post-traumatic stiffness of the joints. Pain relief can be achieved in just 5-10 minutes after exposure to ultralow temperatures and lasts for 6-8 hours. The suppression of pain and restoration of joint functionality allows you to facilitate the rehabilitation period after an injury, the athlete is allowed to gradually increase the load on the damaged body, which helps to quickly restore physical form and help prevent complications. Such rehabilitation after injury can significantly prolong the athletes’ sports life.

It has also been scientifically proven that a few cryo-sauna sessions a day help athletes who fly many hours per day to international competitions to adapt faster to changing time zones. And shifting your regime by a few hours does not affect your training results in any way. Moreover, thanks to cryotherapy procedures, the reaction rate of athletes increases by almost 1.5-2 times, which allows improving athletic performance many times over.

Benefits of cryotherapy for athletes

Cryotherapy is useful not only for improving health and immunity but also for maintaining muscle tone. That’s why athletes often resort to cryotherapy treatments. The main benefits of cryotherapy in sports are:

  • Acceleration of metabolism
  • Rejuvenation of the human body
  • Prevention of damage to joints and tendons
  • Improvement of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems
  • Acceleration of regenerative processes
  • Rapid recovery after vigorous physical activity

The main indications for using cryotherapy are:

  • Maintaining the general immunity of a person
  • Extension of youth
  • Active and healthy lifestyle
  • Recovery after exercise
  • Prevention of nervous breakdowns and stress
  • Helps to get rid of extra pounds
  • Getting rid of cellulite
  • Rejuvenation of the skin
  • Prevention and treatment of psoriasis
  • Increase libido

How does the cryo-sauna affect the human body?

This procedure is based on the stress factor. The human body begins to adapt and get used to extreme conditions. Vessels constrict. After some time, a compensatory reaction occurs. Vessels begin to expand, and blood flow increases. Hormones are released. Thus tissues feel a pleasant warmth.

The cells receive additional nutrition, which has a good effect on the human body. All the tissues are stimulated to work more intensively. What is the effect of the cryo-sauna:

  • Reduction of pain syndrome
  • Prevention of spasms and inflammations
  • Stagnation in human tissues and organs is removed

The procedure lasts from two to three minutes. That is why a person does not have time to freeze, and the body receives health stimulation.

Types of cryo-saunas

There are three main types of devices:

Cryo-room. It is also called Cryotherapy chamber. Several people can be in such a chamber at the same time. The size of the room is quite large, so the temperature does not always reach the desired temperature and the gas cools unevenly. Such devices are not considered reliable enough, because you can catch a cold or get a respiratory tract disease.

Cryo-box and cryo-pool. Are not as large as the cryo-room. Designed for individual procedures. Such a device has a large temperature spread that does not cover the entire body. The top has an open tank, so the face is not protected from nitrogen. Often clients complain about oxygen starvation. The operation of such devices is quite noisy.

Cryo-capsule. They are used for individual procedures. The temperature comes in evenly, covers the entire human body. There is a closed reservoir with a hole for the face. Therefore, there is no risk of catching a cold or injury to the respiratory tract. Characterized by automatic regulation, so the procedure is absolutely safe.

Indications and contraindications for the use of cryo-saunas

Among the indications for the use of cryo-saunas are the following:

  • Skin diseases. These include: eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, etc.
  • Allergic reactions
  • Excess weight
  • Osteochondrosis
  • Radiculitis
  • Arthritis
  • Pathologies of the reproductive system
  • Depression
  • Insomnia
  • Fatigue
  • Diseases of the nervous system
  • Improper functioning of the respiratory system

Contraindications to the use of cryo-saunas:

  • Cancer
  • Hypertension
  • Acute inflammation
  • Hematologic diseases
  • Mental disorders

Once you understand what cryotherapy is and why it is useful, you can consult a doctor. He will determine what kind of cryotherapy you need. Do not go to the procedure on your own, as there may be side effects.

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The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.