It’s no secret that there are lots of gyms around where you can get a great workout at decent prices. Many of them offer the latest machines for cardio and strength training, but that’s actually normal. This is why some gyms offer more exotic workout and health services, and that leads us to cryotherapy. This is a special feature offered by a few gyms such as ClassPass.
What is Cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy is a process that exposes the user’s body to extremely cold temperatures for a few minutes. You may already be familiar with localized therapy, which uses ice packs and ice baths for particular areas of the body.
But in this case, we are talking about the use of a special machine to expose the whole body to the cold. You get into the chamber of the machine, and then the temperature drops to as low as -230 degrees F.
Who Uses Cryotherapy?
Plenty of famous celebs are fans of cryotherapy, and that’s especially true with athletes. Usain Bolt loves this part of his training, while Lebron James swears by it. It’s been used by Stephen Curry, Shaq O’Neil, and Cristiano Ronaldo. Floyd Mayweather used a cryotherapy machine in his training for the fight against Manny Pacquiao.
Plenty of other celebrities have used this too, such as Ellen DeGeneres and Hugh Jackman, who had to undergo a lot of physical training for is Wolverine role. Tony Robbins was so impressed with it that he has his own cryotherapy chamber in his house.
And since an increasing number of gyms are now offering cryotherapy, plenty of ordinary people have tried it too. Perhaps it’s also time for you to try it as well?
Benefits of Cryotherapy
So, why use this? Here are some compelling reasons.
Great for Soreness and Injuries
Its main benefit is that it quickly numbs pain, and that’s an obvious benefit after a strenuous workout and you’re feeling a lot of soreness in your muscles and joints. The extreme cold can even sooth an irritated nerve. This the main reason why so many athletes have used cryotherapy after a hard game. It’s just so soothing.
Helps with Arthritis
It’s also been discovered that cryotherapy works for more than just muscle soreness after strenuous activities. It also offers a significant reduction of the pain felt by people with arthritis.
The use of cryotherapy enables the application of more aggressive physiotherapy and occupational therapy, which means these rehab programs become more effective when cryotherapy is part of the process.
Soothes Migraines
If you have a migraine, cryotherapy can help as well. It doesn’t have to be applied to the whole body, either. It can just be applied to the neck area, and the cooling packs can then cool and numb the carotid arteries in the neck. Somehow, this reduces the pain caused by migraines.
Fights against Mood Disorders
It’s long been known that whole-body cryotherapy leads to physiological hormonal responses. The short exposure to the extreme cold causes the body to release hormones such as endorphins, adrenaline, and noradrenaline.
These hormones give a positive effect on those who are experiencing mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. Cryotherapy actually works as a treatment for these conditions, at least for the short term.
Final Words
Before you do try cryotherapy, it’s always a good idea to get the approval of your doctor. You may have some preexisting condition for which the extreme cold may not be a good idea at all. For those with diabetes and other conditions that affect the nerves, cryotherapy may not be ideal.
Always follow the directions, and it’s best if you have an expert guiding you through the whole process. Never go longer than the time recommended. Wear dry, loose-fitting clothing during the process, along with socks and gloves to help against frostbite. Frostbite may be unlikely, but it’s best to be sure!