Cryotherapy, or “cold therapy,” has become increasingly popular wherein the body is exposed to subzero temperatures of up to -140°C / -220°F to stimulate multiple wellness benefits. This technique can be delivered to one area or can be opted for the whole body. Like sitting in a cold tank that seems an odd path to health, this Japanese-inspired technique was mainly for treating rheumatoid arthritis and osteo. Still, it has been discovered to offer several wellness benefits for the patients receiving treatment.
How Does Cryotherapy Work?
The specialist will give recommendations a few days prior to the treatment, which patients may follow accordingly. On the day of the session, the specialist will clean and dry the chosen location with a gentle massage to ensure lymphatic drainage, which the therapy begins afterward.
The patients will start feeling the nitrogen, liquid nitrogen, liquid nitrous oxide, or argon gas on the desired part of the body, provoking a freezing feeling around all the figures. The session duration will depend on the length of the area, but it should not have a longer duration than 30 minutes. The majority of people find relaxation in the process.
What Are The Top 3 Benefits Of Cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy can produce several health benefits from muscle, skin, energy, and mood problems. Below are the key benefits of this therapy:
1. It Can Help In The Recovery Of Injury And Exercise
Cryotherapy is one popular treatment that offers well-known benefits as it triggers the body’s fight or flight response, releasing adrenaline.
In fact, a study in 2015 found that when 10 synchronized swimmers went through intense training, the cold therapy technique helped mitigate the signs of functional overreaching observed when they didn’t use cryotherapies, such as increased fatigue and impaired exercise capacity and reduced sleep quantity. Additionally, a second study from 2015 had similar findings, stating that Cryotherapy improves acute recovery during high-intensity intermittent exercise in thermoneutral conditions.
Also, the body’s blow flow is directed to the brain and essential organs. The heart rate and circulation increase so that more blood can reach the muscles, which the energy is being power-boost to the muscles, which means that athletes can train harder for longer to become stronger athletes. Truth be told that a lot of the top athletes in the world have been using Cryotherapy for many years now.
2. It Helps Reduce Pain
Cryotherapy temporarily narrows the blood vessels and slows blood flow, reducing inflammation in inflamed or painful areas. The process slows down the nerve transmission so that the brain receives fewer pain signals. Indeed, this is one of the most common benefits of Cryotherapy.
A 2015 study followed 80 men with back pain in which half of the group did Cryotherapy daily, and half did it twice per week. As the study concluded, the men who did Cryotherapy daily reported significant improvement in their pain, which allows the researchers to conclude that WBC (whole-body Cryotherapy) effectively treats lower back pain among patients.
3. It Improves Mental Well-Being
Besides just the physical benefits, Cryotherapy can also positively affect mental health. Psychology Today explains that in non-scientific terms, the idea is that when the body is at -200 degrees, it produces endorphins—sort of like a spinning class on crack. Besides these ever-important endorphins, Cryotherapy can also produce serotonin and improve sleep, leading to better mental health.
In addition, scientific studies in 2007 back up these claims, which tracked anxiety and depression in two groups, one that did 15 cryotherapy treatments over three weeks and one that did none. Researchers found that Cyclic short-term whole-body exposition to extremely low temperatures significantly reduced the severity of depressive and anxiety symptoms and increased life satisfaction.
What To Expect During A Cryotherapy Session?
Cryotherapy uses ultracold temperatures in the body that trigger hormonal responses. These hormones are called adrenaline, noradrenaline, and endorphins. Many studies show positive effects on anxiety and depression when levels of these hormones are increased in the system. This benefit of Cryotherapy caught many regular users by surprise, but now they claim it as one of the primary purposes for their continued use.
A maximum of 1.5 minutes is the expected duration for the first-time users. Once the body is exposed to the cold, the body will become charged with anti-inflammatory proteins and oxygen. This is followed by flushing out the excess white blood cells, and the metabolic rate will increase, which gives the pain-reducing benefits.
Once done, the body will then work to warm itself back to equilibrium by sending oxygen-rich blood and endorphins back into your bloodstream. In fact, the technique can burn up to 800 calories in the few hours following the treatment.
What Are The Risks And Side Effects?
Cryotherapy’s most common side effects are numbness, tingling, redness, and skin irritation. However, the side effects are almost always temporary and can just disappear. So, it is important to make an appointment with a doctor if they don’t resolve within 24 hours.
Also, it is suggested to never use Cryotherapy for longer than is recommended to avoid adverse side effects. The advisable duration of whole body cryotherapy should not be more than four minutes. In case of using an ice pack or ice bath at home, it is best to not apply the ice to the area for more than 20 minutes.
Another important thing is to wrap ice packs in a towel so that the skin won’t get damaged. Those with diabetes or any conditions that affect their nerves should not receive Cryotherapy. They may not feel its effect, and it can also fully lead to further nerve damage.
The Bottom Line
Besides the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic benefits of Cryotherapy, it also speeds the metabolism, helping the body boost collagen, reducing the aging process, and tightening and toning the skin. The results will be unbelievable, and the self-confidence will be higher at ending up in any session. Sevid Beauty Spa offers Cryotherapy that has proven benefits from improved blood circulation to reducing inflammation to stress relief.
Whether you’re looking for muscle pain relief or feeling pampered after a long week, Sevid Beauty Spa provides many options that offer the luxurious experience you have always dreamed about. Experience their high-quality treatments in their luxurious private setting. At Sevid Beauty Spa, they offer soothing treatments performed by their highly experienced staff.
