Cryotherapy: Safety, what to expect, and benefits

In this article, we look at some of the possible benefits of cryotherapy healing and other facts a person may need to know before considering it.

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These medical treatments are highly targeted. However, whole-body treatments are also available. These may include ice baths, cold chambers that use dry ice, or entire cold rooms. People claim that extreme cold can improve mental and physical health and even prolong life. So what does the science say?

Targeted cryotherapy treatments are common for removing warts, skin tags, and other small skin tissues. Doctors may also recommend it for internal use to kill and remove abnormal tissues.

Several treatments fall under the umbrella term of &#;cryotherapy&#;. These can range from targeted therapies like cryoablation to more general cold therapies such as using cold plunges or cold chambers.

Cryotherapy involves treatments that use freezing or near-freezing temperatures. There are various potential physical and mental health benefits.

Pregnant women, children, people with severe high blood pressure , and people with heart conditions should not try cryotherapy.

Neither dermatologists nor the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommend WBC.

Some people use the term cryotherapy to refer to whole-body cryotherapy. This is non-medical treatment in a spa or similar setting. This may involve sitting in a temperature-controlled room, pool, or pod for 2 to 4 minutes at temperatures that may go as low as -200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Targeted cryotherapy for the removal of skin tags, warts, and other masses will occur either in a doctor&#;s office or hospital, depending on the procedure. These treatments are typically well tolerated , and will only be recommended if the patient is a suitable candidate.

It is important to note that while many studies report positive results for cryotherapy as an adjunct treatment for various means, further research is necessary to properly assess its efficacy.

Alternative therapies should never replace traditional treatment plans.

Lesion removal

Targeted cryotherapy is a typically effective method of removing lesions on the skin. Lesions that cryotherapy can aid in removing include:

• skin tags
• warts
• verrucas
• seborrheic keratosis

Doctors may also recommend cryosurgery for the removal of some forms of cancer, including:

• skin cancers, including squamous cell and basal cell carcinomas
• retinoblastoma
• early-stage liver cancer
• early-stage prostate cancer
• bone cancer, mostly chondrosarcoma
• non-small cell lung cancer

However, it is not yet clear how effective cryotherapy is in treating cancer lesions in the long term.

Muscular recovery

Cryotherapy may help with muscle pain and post-exercise recovery. Doctors have long recommended using ice packs on injured and painful muscles. Doing so may increase blood circulation after the ice pack is removed, promoting healing and pain relief.

A review found multiple reports of whole-body cryotherapy having a positive impact on muscular inflammatory markers and post-exercise recovery. However, there is no scientific consensus on the efficacy of cryotherapy for athletic recovery.

One small study found that regular whole-body cryotherapy across a four-week period did not have any positive impact on physical performance in male athletes. A further small study from assessed the use of cryotherapy for recovery in judo practitioners similarly found no conclusive performance benefit but did discover a considerable positive impact on muscular growth factors.

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Cognitive function

A controlled trial found that regular whole-body cryotherapy treatments had a positive effect on certain cognitive markers. Researchers suggest that whole-body cryotherapy may help manage mild cognitive impairment as part of a broader treatment plan.

A trial similarly found that whole-body cryotherapy may have a positive effect on memory retention, making it a potentially effective preventive therapy for mild cognitive impairment.

Reducing anxiety and depression

Whole-body cryotherapy may also have a positive effect on mental wellbeing. A limited study found that people undergoing whole-body cryotherapy reported more positive quality of life, mood, and depression symptoms scores than a control group.

Improving symptoms of eczema

The chronic inflammatory skin condition known as eczema can cause intensely itchy patches of dry skin. A study similarly that cryotherapy may aid in reducing itching symptoms associated with eczema.

However, the study involved small samples and is not enough to draw definitive conclusions.

Cryotherapy 101: whole-body and local application

In the broad sense, the term &#;cryotherapy&#; refers to the application of cold to any part of the human body with the purpose of relieving pain, boosting muscle recovery, and stimulating the immune response.  The most conventional form of cryotherapy as we all know it is a good old bag of ice applied to a bruise or stretched ankle, or an bath tub full of ice-cold water.

Cryotherapy in its current form is a relatively new invention. First presented by a Japanese rheumatologist by the name of Toshima Yamaguchi in , it quickly gained popularity among professional athletes, doctors, and fitness enthusiasts. What initially was supposed to treat inflammation caused by rheumatoid arthritis turned out to be an effective remedy for a number of conditions, from internal inflammations to skin diseases, such as various types of eczema.

Let&#;s now take a look at how cryotherapy works.

Types of cryotherapy

On the most basic level, cryotherapy can be local or whole-body. Local cryotherapy is administered using special equipment, such as Cryomed Cryofan, to the particular area of the patient&#;s skin. Local application helps apply just the right amount of cold for the right period of time according to the severity of the trauma being treated and other factors.

Whole-body cryotherapy is a more complex procedure that requires a cryochamber, a device large enough for a patient to be placed inside and subjected to temperatures as low as negative 170 degrees Celsius. During the procedure, the patient is only wearing underwear, protective slippers and gloves. This type of cryotherapy produces a much more serious effect on the patient, increasing the blood flow to internal organs, causing the blood to be enriched in oxygen and the necessary enzymes.

Cryotherapy chamber treatment is used universally by professional athletes coming from various sports, by fitness professionals, medical and rehab centers, as well as other institutions working with patients recovering from traumas or periods of high stress.

Cryotherapy benefits

As mentioned above, cryotherapy treatment demonstrates remarkable efficiency not just in patient recovery, but also in the treatment of chronic diseases and conditions. The sudden temperature drop to sub-zero levels causes intensive muscle contractions and sends an alarm signal to the brain to reroute blood streams to internal organs to ensure their survival. At the same time, excess liquid is driven out of the sub-skin tissue to minimize swelling, pain factors, and inflammation.

This shock period is followed by the opposite process when the brain realizes that there is no immediate threat of hypothermia. Blood vessels are expanded and streams of oxygen-rich blood is infused into tissues, speeding up cell reproduction and reparation.

Cryotherapy provides another important benefit: deeper penetration into tissues without creating extreme discomfort. Traditional methods, such as a cold bath, offer experiences that are far beyond the comfort level, both in terms of sensations and the amount of time needed to achieve the necessary result. Finally, cryochambers let oxygen contact the patient&#;s skin throughout the procedure, while other methods don&#;t.

In a nutshell, cryotherapy chamber treatment offers a wealth of health benefits related to better blood circulation, faster cellular recovery, pain relief, and lowered stress levels. At the same time, cryotherapy side effects are minimal and bear no risks if the procedure is administered by a professional operator observing all standard measures of precaution.

Whole-body cryotherapy vs local cryotherapy

Whole-body cryotherapy Local cryotherapy Area of applicationWhole body in walk-in chambers; except head in open-top cryosaunasIsolated surface areasTreatment temperaturefrom -110&#;C to -170&#;Cdown to -130&#;Treatment time3 minutes maximumup to 10 minutesTreatment agentNitrogen &#;fog&#; filling the open-top cryosauna cabin or contained in closed-loop coolers in walk-in cryochambersStream of nitrogen-air mixEquipmentOpen-top cryosauna, walk-in cryochamberCryogenic blower (cryofan)Body positionStandingSitting or lying(effective option for people with injuries, which prevent them from standing)Effect on blood vesselsVessels in the whole body constrict at time of session and dilate after it&#;s over Local therapy affects blood vessels only locally, which is good for people with poor cardiovascular health who are not eligible for WBC Overall effectStimulates cold receptors all over the body to trigger system-wide responsePerfect treatment for specific joints or muscle groups. Almost any part of the body can be treated

Choosing what&#;s right for you

The choice of the right equipment depends solely on the type of procedures you are planning to offer and, of course, your budget. If you intend to treat minor injuries during or immediately after sport events, a local cryotherapy system will be your best option. If you run a large medical center and want to offer long-term, multi-session cryotherapy recovery programs, you will definitely need full-sized cryochambers like Cryomed One or Cryomed Pro. These models combine excellent performance, low nitrogen consumption, unparalleled ease of use, and state-of-the-art safety features to deliver the best cryotherapy experience for both users and operators.

If you are still at a loss over the type of cryogenic equipment you should use, don&#;t hesitate to contact us for a comprehensive consultation. We know our products, our business, and our customers, and will be able to advise on the best approach to launching your cryotherapy service based on your needs and goals.  

For more Whole Body Cryotherapy Chamberinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.