What is Cryotherapy and How Does It Work?

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What is Cryotherapy and How Does It Work?
In 2022, its almost impossible not to have heard
about cryotherapy. Boosted by social media, this
wellness treatment is used by some of the biggest
celebrities and athletes in the world who claim
it can improve sleep, burn fat, reduce pain,
tighten skin, and more. But does it really work,
and if so, how? In this blog post, well uncover
the basics of cryotherapy, how it works, and its
benefits. Read on to learn more and see if this
minimally invasive treatment lives up to the
hype at CryoCON 2023! What is Cryotherapy? Cryot
herapy involves using cold temperatures as the
primary healing component of all therapeutic
processes. Despite its rise to fame in recent
years, forms of this treatment have been used by
the ancient Egyptians since 2500 BC. Cryotherapy
was developed in the 1970s by Japanese
rheumatologist Toshima Yamaguchi to alleviate
inflammation from arthritis. Since then, it has
been discovered to offer several other benefits
and potential uses. It is a minimally invasive
treatment where extreme cold is applied either
locally or to the whole body to freeze and
destroy abnormal tissue or elicit a natural
response produced by the body. During whole-body
cryotherapy, the entire body is exposed to
temperatures
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between negative 140 to 210 degrees Fahrenheit
for a short time to stimulate an
anti-inflammatory response, endorphin release,
and reduce bodily pain. How Does Cryogenic
Therapy Work? Whole-body cryotherapy involves
stepping into a chamber cooled by nitrogen
gases. The subzero temperatures instantly shock
the body and send it into a fight or flight
mode. Blood vessels constrict, and blood is
redirected to core organs to survive. After
exiting the chamber, blood vessels immediately
dilate, rushing oxygen-rich blood and endorphins
back through the body. The body also produces a
boost of anti-inflammatory proteins, rids excess
white blood cells, and boosts metabolic
rate. Top Benefits of Cryotherapy Reduce
inflammation Inflammation is caused by a
build-up of edema and increased white blood cells
in the inflamed tissue. After stepping out of
the cryogenic chamber, oxygen-rich blood flows
back to the injured areas of the body, which can
restimulate the healing process. Studies have
shown that extremely cold temperatures trigger
norepinephrine, an anti-inflammatory chemical
naturally produced by the body. It also
increases the production of proteins critical to
cell signaling and proangiogenic factors, like
angiogenesis, a vital bodily function responsible
for delivering oxygen and nutrients to body
tissue and wound healing. Manages skin
conditions Cryotherapy has been used to treat
various skin conditions, including warts, skin
tags, dark spots, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis,
eczema, and more. Whole-body cryotherapy
increases the antioxidant levels in the blood and
its flow to the skin, encouraging cell
regeneration and making skin appear younger,
tighter, and softer. According to Dr. Gil
Yosipovitch, a chairperson at the Department of
Dermatology at Miami University, Some patients
with atopic dermatitis report that eczema
improves with extreme cold. Cryotherapy helps
boost your bodys immune system and, therefore,
its ability to heal rashes and symptoms of skin
conditions, and exposing irritated skin to cold
temperatures produces a soothing effect. While
not a cure, routine cryotherapy can effectively
soothe irritated skin. Improves sleep
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Cryotherapy releases a rush of endorphins and
increases the production of norepinephrine, the
hormone involved in regulating your sleep cycle.
The rush of endorphins after exiting the cooling
chamber brings on a feeling of increased energy,
followed by relaxation and better sleep. Since
cryotherapy can also reduce pain, patients have
found that they sleep better and more
soundly. Reduce pain Localized and whole-body
cryotherapy has been shown to effectively and
significantly reduce arthritic pain and general
pain. Like an ice pack, cooling chambers reduce
swelling and slow down the transmission of nerve
signals, reducing the number of pain signals
sent to the brain. Patients with fibromyalgia,
rheumatoid arthritis, back pain, and more have
seen significant results in pain reduction when
treated with cryotherapy. In a study where
whole-body cryotherapy was used to rehabilitate
patients with rheumatoid diseases, it was found
to reduce pain levels significantly. Athletes use
cryotherapy to treat injuries for several
reasons, one of which is that it can numb pain.
The extreme cold numbs irritated nerves, which
can allow for more aggressive physical and
occupational therapy, increasing the
effectiveness of rehabilitation programs. Reduce
migraine symptoms By cooling and numbing nerves
in the neck area, cryotherapy can help treat
migraines. Localized cryotherapy targeting
carotid arteries in the neck has reduced pain by
cooling the blood passing through intracranial
vessels. Since carotid arteries are close to the
skin, they are easily accessible and a viable way
to mitigate the symptoms of patients suffering
from migraines. Final Thoughts While the
long-term effectiveness of cryotherapy is still
in research, there is validity in recurring
sessions to treat a wide variety of conditions.
Speak with your healthcare provider to determine
whether this treatment is right for you. CryoCON
2023
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If youd like to learn more information about the
science of cryogenic therapy, how it works, best
practices for running a successful wellness
business, and try out the latest technological
advancements, be sure to grab your tickets for
CryoCON 2023 in Dallas, Texas, on March 5-7! The
third annual Cryo Convention is a wellness
convention that aims to provide information for
businesses to learn more about the latest trends
in the wellness industry and how they can
benefit your clinic, cryotherapy studio, spa, or
rehab center.