What is Cryotherapy?
What is Cryotherapy?
In short, Cryotherapy is a method of using extremely cold temperatures for therapeutic treatment of all or specific parts of the body.
Athletes have been using techniques that can be considered “cryotherapy” for years, including simple tactics such as applying ice to an injury or taking ice baths for muscle recovery. The latest methods of Cryotherapy, however, take the term “cold” to a whole new level, plunging your body in temperatures down to -200 degrees.
What are the latest methods of Cryotherapy?
While there are a variety of medical procedures using and testing cryotherapy techniques, from removing pre-cancerous skin lesions to Cryosurgery for cancer, the two types of Cryotherapy we are discussing today are Whole Body Cryotherapy and Cryofacials.
What is Whole Body Cryotherapy?
Whole Body Cryotherapy involves enclosing your entire body, with the exception of your head, in a cryo chamber that, with the help of liquid nitrogen, drops the temperature as low as -200F degrees. Wearing only underwear, mittens and socks to protect the extremities, you remain in the chamber for 3 minutes and then step out, realizing a wide variety of potential benefits.
Although the science is still a work-in-progress, many elite athletes, as well as people with chronic joint pain, have lauded the treatment. Whole Body Cryotherapy’s benefits include:
Accelerated exercise recovery
Reduced inflammation
Pain treatment for those with rheumatic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Pain relief for back pain, shoulder pain, knee pain and other joint and muscle pain.
An immune system boost by increasing white blood count over a series of cryo sessions.
Mental clarity
Reduced anxiety and depression.
How does Cryotherapy work?
The extreme cold hits the receptors on your skin surface and your brain puts your body in a fight or flight response mode. Blood then flows away from the extremities and the areas of inflammation and moves towards your torso to protect your vital organs. At this point the blood starts oxygenating and flushing it of toxins and lactic acid. When you step out of the cryo chamber the now oxygenated, nutrient-rich blood flows back to the extremities and begins the healing process.
As Cryotherapy is still a science in discovery, it is always good to check with your physician before undergoing any treatments. If you suffer from hypertension, cardiac disease, lung disorders, arrhythmia, acute kidney infections, thrombosis or seizures you should avoid Whole Body Cyrotherapy.
What is a Cryofacial?
Similar to Whole Body Cryotherapy, a Cryofacial exposes your skin to extremely cold temperatures. The process involves an aesthetician blowing controlled beams of vaporized liquid nitrogen in circles all over your face for a few minutes. It exfoliates the skin and stimulates the growth of cells underneath. Benefits include improved blood circulation, increased collagen production, decreased pore size, even skin tone and reduced puffiness and dark circles. Again, it’s an evolving science, but proponents of the therapy rave about the instant results of firmer, tighter, glowing skin.
At The Parlor, we offer 40 suites for premier beauty & wellness practitioners including Cryotherapy experts. If you are a practitioner interested in becoming a member of our beauty & wellness suite community, contact us here.