Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy is “cold therapy” which uses extremely low temperatures (about -230ºF) for short periods of time. Your body is exposed to this low temperature to stimulate the fight or flight response to accelerate recovery and decrease inflammation throughout the entire body among many other benefits.

You can get benefits from just one session of cryotherapy, but it’s most effective when used regularly.

Benefits of Cryotherapy
  • Burns 400-700 calories in 3 minutes
  • Reduces pain, inflammation, and oxidative stress
  • Speeds up recovery and overall muscle healing
  • Increases performance and improves circulation
  • Helps with anxiety, depression, insomnia, and chronic fatigue
  • Improves joint mobility and reduces joint pain
  • Helps delay aging, tighten skin and reduce appearance of wrinkles
  • Helps reduce appearance of cellulite by boosting collagen production
  • Treats atopic dermatitis and other skin conditions like acne
  • Helps to detoxify the body
  • Helps reduce migraine symptoms
  • Can help reduce pain and symptoms of arthritis, fibromyalgia, and MS
  • Can help prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
  • Can help treat low risk tumors

FAQs

How cold does cryotherapy get?

Cryotherapy can reach temperatures as low as -230° F (-145° C)

How long are you in the chamber for?

1-3 minutes

Can you get frostbite in cryotherapy?

No. You will be given gloves and slippers to wear in your cryotherapy session so that you do not get frostbite. You will be asked to remove any jewelry/metal on your body.

What if I'm claustrophobic?

The cryochamber is open at the top and adjusted to fit the height of the client, and your head and neck are always above the opening so you are not fully enclosed. Although the cryochamber has a door that will be closed during the treatment, it will not be locked so you may step out at any time if needed.

How does cryotherapy compare to an ice bath?

Whole Body Cryotherapy treatments result in a very different response from the body compared to traditional ice baths. Two to three minutes in the Cryosauna, which is a cold, dry nitrogen vapor, is equivalent to 20-30 minutes in an ice bath without the uncomfortable feeling of submerging in ice cold water. The nitrogen vapor chills the top skin layers and cold receptors lowering the outer body’s temp 30-50 degrees. This causes the brain to restrict blood flow to your extremities, which is the bodies natural fight-or-flight response to extreme cold. The body reacts to the Whole Body Cryotherapy treatment by releasing anti-inflammatory proteins and endorphins resulting in super-charged blood. Fifteen minutes in an ice bath of cold water initially causes the body to move blood to the extremities and results in a lowering of the body’s core temperature. Ice baths do not supercharge the blood like Cryotherapy.

Am I alone during the session?

No. Although you will be in the actual cryochamber alone, you will always be accompanied by an authorized cryotherapy technician who has been certified to run cryotherapy sessions. They will be with you the entire session and they will walk you through the entire procedure and safety precautions.

What do I wear?

You will be asked to disrobe to your undergarments and put on slippers and gloves with a robe. We’ll provide everything except the undergarments! Ladies, you can opt to keep your sports bra on (no underwire or metal clasps). You will also be asked to remove any jewelry or metal objects.

Is cryotherapy safe?

Yes. The cryotherapy chamber is always operated and monitored by a trained staff member.

The liquid nitrogen that is used as a chilling agent does not come into contact with your skin, and it is the same nitrogen that makes up the air we breathe (actually 78% of it). In the chamber, a person breathes room-air. For added safety, chambers are equipped with an oxygen monitor. A trained operator is always present during the treatment to control the temperature levels and monitor your comfort.

What should I expect during a cryotherapy session?

First you change out of your clothes into a comfortable robe, thermal socks, rubber booties, gloves and you can keep your undergarments on (but no metal!).

The authorized cryo technician will place risers for you to stand upon so that your head and neck are not exposed to the cold vapor. They will then pre-cool the unit, you’ll step in, close the door and hand over your robe. The technician hits “start” and the dry nitrogen vapor will start to flow.

Throughout the 1- to 3-minute session, you’ll rotate around so the vapor hits all sides of your body. You might hear beeping every 30 seconds, which is simply a safety mechanism for the unit and technician. Once your session is over, the technician will hand you your robe in the chamber, and you can exit and get dressed again.

How soon can I expect results from cryotherapy?

After completing your first treatment your body will release endorphins, which are hormones that make you feel good and energetic. This feeling will likely last for several hours. Depending on your physical condition, you may feel immediate relief from joint and muscle pain, improved energy, and increased flexibility that will last for several hours or even days.

While every therapy session is beneficial and you’ll feel immediate results, research has shown that you will experience improved and cumulative benefits after a minimum of 10 sessions, within a two or three week period. To achieve peak performance, professional athletes might benefit from having up to two sessions a day. After that you can take fewer treatments spaced further apart to maintain and improve on your results (For example, once or twice a week).

Who should NOT use cryotherapy?

You should not perform cryotherapy under the following conditions: Pregnancy, severe Hypertension (BP> 180/100), acute or recent myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, arrhythmia, symptomatic cardiovascular disease, cardiac pacemaker, peripheral arterial occlusive disease, venous thrombosis, acute or recent cerebrovascular accident, uncontrolled seizures, Raynaud’s Syndrome, fever, tumor disease, symptomatic lung disorders, bleeding disorders, severe anemia, infection, cold allergy, acute kidney and urinary tract diseases.

Is there an age requirement for cryotherapy?

Cryotherapy is designed for adults. For those under age 18, parental consent is required. For those under age 18, please consult with our medical staff and your primary care physician prior to trying cryotherapy.

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