Therapeutic Benefits of Cryotherapy
Many options are available to help optimize recovery from training and injuries for athletes and active people. But perhaps none is as effective or efficient as Cryotherapy.
Cryotherapy is a form of research-based cold therapy widely used in sports medicine. The primary purpose of this recovery method is to help athletes recover from pre-and post-season injuries. Newer research suggests that Cryotherapy is also suitable for weight loss and performance enhancement due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
Cryotherapy may be the game-changer you’ve been looking for.
What is Cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy is a controlled deconstruction of body tissue to bring healing and recovery to the whole body.
Cryotherapy is not a new technique. Its name is derived from the Greek “cryo,” meaning cold, and “Therapeia,” for therapy. Egyptians adopted cold treatment therapy as early as 2500 BC to treat inflammation and injuries. They used hydrotherapeutic techniques by pouring water over the whole body.
Thankfully, whole-body cold therapy methods have improved significantly, becoming a modern pain therapy and performance enhancer.
How Does Whole Body Cryotherapy Work?
Whole-body Cryotherapy is administered in a chamber filled with gaseous nitrogen. While it sounds alarming, it’s perfectly safe to be in this enclosure as long as your hands and feet are covered. Any experienced cryotherapy technician will provide gloves and socks to prevent unnecessary exposure. Once inside the cryo-chamber, a platform rises to your exact height specifications. The chamber is open at the top, and the walls surround the body.
The temperature inside the enclosure drops to negative 200 – 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Yes, it’s cold inside the chamber, but the good news is that it only lasts up to three minutes.
The extreme temperature triggers your body’s fight or flight response because your brain responds to the extreme cold (stress). When stimulated by the cold, your body releases hormones like norepinephrine (adrenaline).
Norepinephrine, or noradrenaline, is both a neurotransmitter and a hormone. It plays an essential role in your body’s “fight-or-flight” response.
As a neurotransmitter and hormone, noradrenaline affects organs and tissues to put the body in “go mode.” In other words, your brain signals your body systems to go into a protective state.
The following reactions occur when norepinephrine is released:
Heart: Your heart quickly pumps more oxygenated blood to the muscles. The hormone also maintains your blood pressure in a stressful state (cold temperature is the stressor in this case).
Muscles: Your muscles receive more blood flow, which allows you to react with accelerated speed and strength.
Liver: Stored glycogen converts to glucose for an energy boost.
Lungs: Your airways open up to allow you to breathe deeply and quickly. More oxygenated blood is pumped through the cardiopulmonary system, boosting the muscles.
Eyes: Your eyes dilate and let in more light, which allows you to see more of your surroundings.
Of course, this is a simplified outline of the “fight or flight” response, but you can see the immediate healing benefits of tricking your brain into protective mode.
How does this response translate to lasting healing and performance benefits?
To answer this question, I talked with Trevor Taggart, a sports performance specialist with Cutting Edge Sports Training. He shared his perspective on the benefits of Cryotherapy for his clients, both competitive and non.
My first question for Taggart was about athletic training. I asked him why he thinks athletes should consider Cryotherapy as part of their programming. He replied, “Athletes continuously stress their bodies through physical activity, which naturally raises their chances for a sports injury. Cryotherapy helps expedite the healing process by reducing inflammation around the muscle tissue.”
Taggart also explains that “clients who are rehabbing injuries ranging in severity need effective recovery methods” to strengthen the muscles and surrounding tissue. “Cryotherapy has proven to be a contributing factor in the health of my clients.”
Taggart’s assessment of the risk of sports injuries is accurate. According to a National Health Statistics Report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 8.6 million sports injuries occur yearly. And these numbers only apply to athletes. Think about the millions of people who are not training for a sport yet still sustain injuries in the gym. Cryotherapy is for them as well.
Here are five benefits of Cryotherapy that everyone should know.
1. Cryotherapy reduces inflammatory conditions around the affected tissues.
Inflammation is when the body takes white blood cells and moves them to areas where there could be potential threats, such as tissue trauma.
This process can also cause body parts to swell if too much fluid builds up. With Cryotherapy, excess fluid moves away from the inflamed site, allowing fresh blood to flow back into that part of the body and reduce swelling.
2. Cryotherapy aids in post-exercise recovery.
The muscles in the body need time to recover after strenuous exercise. Current research suggests that overall recovery time is reduced with cold compression therapy, allowing athletes to get back to their games and workouts. Cold compression therapy may also help ease muscle pain and reduce the likelihood of muscle damage.
3. Cryotherapy increases flexibility.
Flexibility is a challenge, especially after rigorously working out your muscles. Studies show that Cryotherapy can help relax overworked muscles and improve flexibility. Cold therapy may help loosen the muscles quickly by focusing on problem areas. Sometimes “spot cryotherapy” is best for isolated areas of swelling.
4. Cryotherapy accelerates muscle and tissue repair.
The muscles and tissues in the body need time to repair after being pushed to the limit or beyond. Cryotherapy can help accelerate skeletal muscle repair by stimulating blood and lymphatic fluid movement, bringing much-needed nutrients and oxygen to the muscles and tissues.
5. Cryotherapy reduces recovery time and may prevent future injuries.
Injuries, tears, and (some) muscle strain are part of an active lifestyle. You’ll either quickly get back on the field or be sidelined even longer, depending on your treatment choices. By utilizing the benefits of Cryotherapy, you can help your body heal faster, prevent new injuries, and protect old injuries from being aggravated.
Chris Cloutier, a 6’1″ 227-pound lacrosse forward for the Buffalo Bandits, knows the importance of reducing recovery time. He maximizes his recovery efforts at Buffalocryo, in Buffalo, New York.
Cloutier shared his Cryotherapy perspective with me the same day I experienced it for the first time.
He says this about his experience: “Cryotherapy is an effective recovery treatment. My muscle soreness subsides after a cold therapy session, and I feel refreshed.” Cloutier explained that cryo “positively affects his flexibility” when his muscles feel overworked or tight. “I can move easier after a post-cryo stretch session.”
The Buffalo Bandits forward also shared a fun fact about Cryotherapy: “Cryo cures hangovers.” Duly noted for future reference.
My Cryotherapy Experience
Conveniently located in an up-and-coming area of Buffalo, NY, Buffalocryo has plenty of parking designated for clients only.
I didn’t set out to write a review of Buffalocryo in this blog. But after a positive experience, I feel compelled to share it.
The Buffalocryo team was integral to my positive experience. I immediately liked the vibe when I walked into the clinic. The owner, Dr. Jacob Fey “Doc”, PT, DPT., was gracious enough to answer all of my (many) questions. I asked him to share his thoughts about why everyone, not just athletes, should make Cryotherapy part of their lives.
Loaded question, right?
With all his knowledge and experience, the doc simply stated, “Cryotherapy helps people feel better to do more with their lives.”
“I have seen a profound positive impact on my clients’ mental and physical health overall,” says Fey. “Buffalocryo’s approach to recovery and performance is multifaceted, making our cryo and stretch sessions more effective.”
Doc says that “Cold therapy is for everyone because of the physiological response induced. It allows people to recover faster in between cardiovascular or strength training workouts. People should be able to workout safely and without injury, and the added calorie burn of about 200 – 300 cals is a bonus for people with weight loss goals.”
Doc Fey refers to the metabolic, thermogenic effect from the energy required to sustain the cold and reheat the skin afterward.
I had some idea of what to expect heading into the clinic, but Doc clearly explained the Cryotherapy process to prepare me for my first session.
After I changed my clothes in a clean, private changing room, Doc told me what I could expect from the 3 minutes I would spend in the cryo-chamber.
The platform in the enclosure adjusted to my height to prevent me from inhaling liquid nitrogen. Once the process started, a safe, dry mist surrounded me. The cold feeling was immediate.
I experienced everything he told me in this order:
Minute 1: Oh my! What was I thinking? Cryo is way colder than I thought it would be!
Minute 2: Okay, I understand what is happening now, and it’s not so bad.
Minute 3: Pins and needles set in due to prolonged exposure. Dr. Fey told me this is because the nerve endings change their feedback signal because of the exposure. I knew I was going to be okay at this point.
From a physiological standpoint, the process is quite interesting. My skin got down to 49 degrees Fahrenheit! Yes. 49 degrees. My skin temperature restored to pre-cryo temperature after stepping out of the cold chamber. Then I enjoyed some time in the infrared sauna to heat up.
Final Thoughts About Cryotherapy
When I set out to research Cryotherapy, I was not entirely sure what to expect. There is no doubt that cold therapy should become part of any person’s workout and recovery regimen, but what surprised me the most was the whole wellness vibe felt throughout the entire experience. It was evident that this process is a mind-body experience that everyone should try for themselves.
I would recommend Cryotherapy at Buffalocryo to people for various reasons. The professionals are highly educated, sympathetic to new clients, and fully committed to helping people feel their absolute best.
I have concluded that whole-body Cryotherapy is one of the most comprehensive recovery methods available to heal the body.
Camille Panaro
I am a wife, mother, teacher, fitness enthusiast, and life-long learner. Currently living in NY, I'm proud to live, work, and play in this amazing community. Spot You For Life is inspired by an accumulation of my experiences and continued learning. Never stop seeking!
