WHAT IS CRYOTHERAPY?
Cryotherapy refers to the process of stimulating the body’s natural healing and recovery systems
by applying extremely cold temperatures to particular body parts (local cryotherapy) or the entire
body (whole body cryotherapy). Eliminating pain, reducing inflammation, and improving the blood
flow are just a few of the many positive benefits it can cause.
WHY CRYOTHERAPY?
To use extremely cold temperatures in order to induce healing processes is a technique as old as
medicine itself. In more recent times, cryotherapy has been used to stimulate the body’s own
natural ability to recover, repair, and rebuild. Using extremly cold temperatures over a short time
has an effect unlike any other cold therapy or treatment.
WHO NEEDS CRYOTHERAPY?
Cryotherapy is good for anyone who wishes to supercharge their body’s natural ability to heal, repair, and recover – like chiropractic patients, professional and amateur athletes, weekend warriors, and anyone who wishes to improve their quality of life and to increase their health
Benefits of cryotherapy
1. Reduces migraine symptoms
Cryotherapy can help treat migraines by cooling and numbing nerves in the neck area. One study
foundTrusted Source that applying a neck wrap containing two frozen ice packs to the carotid
arteries in the neck significantly reduced migraine pain in those tested.It’s thought that this works
by cooling the blood passing through intracranial vessels. The carotid arteries are close to the
skin’s surface and accessible.
2. Numbs nerve irritation
Many athletes have been using cryotherapy to treat injuries for years, and one of the reasons
why is that it can numb pain. The cold can actually numb an irritated nerve. Doctors will treat
the affected area with a small probe inserted into the nearby tissue. This can help treat pinched
nerves or neuromas, chronic pain, or even acute injuries.
3. Helps treat mood disorders
The ultra-cold temperatures in whole-body cryotherapy can cause physiological hormonal
responses. This includes the release of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and endorphins. This can
have a positive effect on those experiencing mood disorders like anxiety and depression.
One study foundTrusted Source that whole-body cryotherapy was actually effective in
short-term treatment for both.
4. Reduces arthritic pain
Localized cryotherapy treatment isn’t the only thing that’s effective at treating serious conditions;
one study foundTrusted
Source that whole-body cryotherapy significantly reduced pain in people with arthritis. They
found that the treatment was well-tolerated. It also allowed for more aggressive physiotherapy
and occupational therapy as a result. This ultimately made rehabilitation programs more effective.
5. May help treat low-risk tumors
Targeted, localized cryotherapy can be used as a cancer treatment. In this context, it’s called
“cryosurgery.” It works by
freezing cancer cells and surrounding them with ice crystals. It’s currently being used to treat some
low-risk tumors for certain types of cancer, including prostate cancer.
6. May help prevent dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
While more research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of this strategy, it’s theorized that
whole-body cryotherapy could help prevent Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. It’s thought
thatTrusted Source this may be an effective treatment because the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory
effects of cryotherapy could help combat the inflammatory and oxidative stress responses that occur
with Alzheimer’s.
7. Treats atopic dermatitis and other skin conditions
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with signature symptoms of dry and itchy
skin. Because cryotherapy can improve antioxidant levelsTrusted Source in the blood and can
simultaneously reduce inflammation, it makes sense that both localized and whole-body cryotherapy
can help treat atopic dermatitis. Another study (in mice) examined its effect for acne,targeting the
sebaceous glands.
