What is Cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy (also referred to as "cold therapy") is the use of extremely low temperatures to destroy diseased or abnormal tissue. This involves freezing or near-freezing temperatures, which may be uncomfortable to those who are not accustomed. It is most commonly used to relieve pain and inflammation, and in the sports world it is utilized mainly for quick muscle recovery.
You may have heard of ice baths, or cryochambers as a way to receive the aforementioned benefits, but even the earliest use of an ice pack from the nurse's office should remind you how much relief can come from small uses of cold therapy. Even the self-described "Iceman" Wim Hof claims that exposure to extreme cold can prolong life and improve your overall health.
So what does the science say?
Cryotherapy has been known to help with joint and muscle disorders, and promotes faster healing of athletic injuries.
The way this works is through increased blood flow. When the cold is removed, blood rushes back to the source of pain or injury and this increased rush of oxygenated blood promotes the body's natural healing mechanisms.
This 2000 study found that cryotherapy relieved pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis and had the potential to reduce the damaging aspects of intense exercise. Not to mention, everyone who used cryotherapy reported less pain overall.
Forms of Cryotherapy
You can experience the benefits of cryotherapy in many different ways. Some of which include:
- Water Immersion
- Ice Packs
- Ice massage
- Ice Spray
The newest cryotherapy tech includes the Freeze Sleeve, which is an innovative, easy to use ice pack sleeve to help with recovery by efficiently icing sore muscles and joints. The multi-size cold sleeve fits on forearms, elbows, legs, knees, ankles and more.
For a chance to win your own Freeze Sleeve (along with other muscle recovery tech) enter our Wellness Giveaway! Winners are notified September 16th, 2021.
Happy Healing!