Cryotherapy involves using extremely low temperatures in a controlled environment to treat a variety of symptoms. The amount of conditions that cryotherapy can treat is huge, from the inside of your body to the top layer of skin. If you have any nerve or joint pain, skin conditions, or other ailments, then cryotherapy treatments may help you find relief.
Whole-body cryotherapy uses temperatures as low as -250 degrees to achieve the desired health benefits. For this, you step into a futuristic-looking chamber where you’re exposed to the arctic chill for a few minutes. Another treatment method is the Local Cryo-Stimulation Device (LCSD), which can be used to spot-treat different areas. Of course, always consult a doctor before changing your medical routine or trying anything new.
Migraines
If you get migraines, you know how utterly painful and debilitating they can be. When a migraine hits, there’s almost nothing that can stop it. Cryotherapy can help soothe the muscles, nerves, and blood vessels around the neck and spine that may be contributing to your pain.
Exercise Recovery & Inflammation
Another huge benefit to cryotherapy is faster recovery from exercise and chronic inflammation. The cold is very soothing to sore muscles and nerves and reduces the swelling and pain from exercise, injury, and conditions that cause chronic pain.
Arthritis
Localized cryotherapy is also an option for treating conditions like arthritis. The direct application of cold means you don’t have to step into a whole-body chamber of frosty air. This treatment is a quick and easy way to find relief for your joint pain.
Skin Conditions
Tight pores, reducing wrinkles, and brightened skin aren’t the only benefits your skin will enjoy. Cryotherapy also helps with eczema and water retention. By reducing inflammation and improving oxidant levels, dry and flaky skin is greatly reduced.
Heart Health
By spending some time in a super cold cryotherapy chamber, you can help treat blood pressure conditions and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. The low temperatures lower your resting heart rate while increasing the amount of blood that’s being pumped through your body.
Weight Loss
Cryotherapy alone won’t make you lose weight, but it can help the process. The few minutes you spend in a cryotherapy chamber are enough to boost your metabolism for the rest of the day. The treatment also reduces pain and inflammation after exercise, so you can get back in the gym faster.
Anxiety & Depression
Cryotherapy can be used to help treat anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions linked to inflammation. As you already know, cryotherapy is a great way to reduce inflammation and pain. A study in Poland found that spending three minutes in cryotherapy improved their mental health as compared to the control group, which didn't improve. It works because when your body is subjected to those super cold temperatures, endorphins are released, giving you a bid dose of the happy chemical in your brain. This leads to reduced stress levels and increases the quality of life, which can help with mental health.
Risks & Side Effects
Of course, cryotherapy has its dangers. The most common symptoms are ones like numbness, tingling, redness, or minor skin irritation. However, cryotherapy can quickly become quite damaging to the body if you’re not careful. If you’re exposed to the low temperatures for too long, you could get frostbite.
That shouldn’t happen if you go to a good clinic with cryotherapy chambers but you should always know your limits. If any symptoms last more than 24 hours, contact your doctor.
