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 guest enjoy when the conditions they’re suffering from are recovered! With that being said, Cryotherapy is used by athletes, the elderly, and pretty much anyone seeking recovery and overall, well-being improvements.
HISTORY
The father of Cryotherapy is man called Dr. Yamaguchi, of Japan. He first started using freezing treatments on his patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 1978. Finally, 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. Dr. Yamaguchi’s patients experienced a release of endorphins as another result of the drastically decreased temperatures, leading to reduced pain, bringing us to our #1 Benefit:
1. Pain Management
Cryotherapy is an AMAZING way to keep our guests feeling great. It is used for guests seeking ANY kind of 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 Cryotherapy. 13 Benefits of Whole Body Cryotherapy + Side Effects – SelfHacked
2. Recovery & Performance
For our guests who seek a competitive edge, quick & easy recovery, AND top performance, iCRYO is the perfect place. Cryotherapy is used to help guests accomplish all of their goals and recovery needs. Our guests don’t have to be a professional athlete to notice the many benefits of Cryotherapy. So, when they are looking for a faster recovery, decreased tiredness, or increased flexibility, they know where to go!
3. General Health & Wellness
Some of best parts about 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 Cryotherapy successfully to improve our guest’s overall health. Stronger immune system, better sleep, increased mood, and energy are just a few ways Cryotherapy helps with keeping guest’s bodies happy and healthy!
4. Beauty & Aesthetics
Cryotherapy is used to effectively enhance metabolism, tighten the skin, provide a glowing complexion, and to 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!
5. Depression & Anxiety
The freezing cold air used in Cryotherapy causes the brain to release a higher-than normal level of endorphins and other “feel-good” hormones. Because of the increased endorphins and adrenaline levels after a session, many guests report enhanced mood and increased energy, thanks to Cryotherapy.
6. Anti-Inflammatory
Using this cold treatment consistently, Cryotherapy 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 Cryotherapy enhances the body’s natural healing mechanisms, it is a highly recommended anti-inflammatory treatment!
7. Anti-Aging
Once skin is covered by cooling temperatures, Cryotherapy “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!
8. 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!
9. 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!
10. 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. Cryotherapy 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!
11. 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 sports celebrities, are also adopting it for speedy recovery from exertion, soreness, and other exercise-related symptoms.
12. Alzheimer's Disease
According to the CDC, Alzheimer’s Disease is the 6th largest cause of death in the United States. As the disease progresses, behavioral changes get worse, and brain cells die. While there still is no cure for Alzheimer’s Disease, there are treatments that can slow down the symptoms for a limited period of time. Cryotherapy being one of them!
A paper published in Medical Hypothesis states: “Nowadays, there is a general consensus that vascular alterations, oxidative stress and inflammatory response contribute to the development of AD. Following these mechanisms and tracing the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of Cryostimulation, we postulate that whole-body Cryotherapy might be utilized as a means of preventing AD.”
13. 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.
14. 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, guests treat this condition at home with ice packs, rest, and painkillers. Medical treatments may require steroids and antibiotics. But thanks to Cryotherapy, guests can be relieved from this pain and inflammation instantly!
15. Prostate Cancer
Prostate Cancer is one of the most common cancers among men in USA. Clinical studies are proving that Cryotherapy can benefit men with early-stage prostate cancer. But how does Cryotherapy work to treat prostate cancer? It works by freezing tissue within the prostate gland until the cancer cells eventually die. Prostate cancer – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic
Although a lot of cancer specialists are convinced how effective this treatment may be, it still comes with a few contraindications.
Men who are still sexually active, have had previous surgery for rectal cancer or have large tumors that cannot be targeted without damaging surrounding tissue and organs, are not advised to try Cryotherapy. Doctor’s approval may be neeeded.