6 Benefits Of Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy literally translates to “cold therapy.” During cryotherapy sessions, your body is exposed to extreme cold temperatures for a set period of time, usually between two and four minutes. Cryotherapy can be concentrated to one part of the body, but whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) is becoming more popular. In WBC sessions, you enter a cryotherapy chamber for two to three minutes.

Cryotherapy has gained a lot of buzz in the medical world as of late because of its potential to treat a wide array of conditions. While further research is needed to confirm findings, cryotherapy has shown promise at treating everything from chronic pain conditions to dementia and Alzheimer’s to mood disorders.

Below, we’ll go over some of the most notable benefits of cryotherapy.

Cryotherapy Benefits

Treat Migraine Symptoms

Migraines are notoriously difficult to treat and can be debilitating for many sufferers. More than just bad headaches, migraines can disrupt your life and require days of downtime. Some concentrated forms of cryotherapy show promise as a viable treatment option for migraines.

Researchers theorize that extreme cold temperatures help cool the blood passing through the intracranial vessels. An early study found targeted cryotherapy on the neck near the carotid arteries significantly reduced migraine pain.

While cryotherapy cannot eliminate migraine headaches entirely, current research indicates that it can help you manage symptoms.

Reduce Inflammation

Inflammation is not discussed enough as a contributor to a variety of health conditions. Inflammation causes the immune system to become overactive and, in the long run, this could increase your risk of serious conditions such as cancer, diabetes, dementia, and depression. Even on a day-to-day basis, inflammation is bad news. It can cause you to feel sluggish and achy and is often the cause of gastrointestinal complications.

In short, reducing inflammation is one of the best investments you can make in your health, and cryotherapy can help. So far, most studies on the effects of cryotherapy on inflammation have been done on rats, but the results are promising. Regular cryotherapy sessions could potentially improve your quality of life now and prevent diseases from developing in the future.

Prevent Dementia And Cognitive Impairment

In 2012, a paper theorized that cryotherapy’s ability to reduce both inflammation and oxidative stress could prevent not only dementia but even mild forms of cognitive impairment associated with aging.

As with other cryotherapy benefits, further research is needed to confirm, but dementia can be difficult to treat and early intervention is key. If you are at an increased risk for dementia or related conditions, consider asking your doctor about the potential benefits of cryotherapy.

Soothes Arthritis Pain

According to one study, whole-body cryotherapy has been shown to significantly reduce pain associated with arthritis. After a single session, patients experienced reduction in pain, which had secondary benefits.

With severe arthritis, pain often becomes so debilitating that patients are unable to engage in physical therapy, worsening the condition. Those who underwent cryotherapy treatment were better equipped to undergo more aggressive forms of physical therapy and occupational therapy, making rehabilitation programs more effective. The combination of cryotherapy and physical therapy could lead to major improvement for arthritis patients.

Manages Mood Disorders

Physiological hormonal changes triggered by ultra-cold temperatures lead to the release of adrenaline, noradrenaline, and endorphins. Low levels of these hormones may be a causal factor for a variety of mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Cryotherapy could therefore be part of a treatment plan for these disorders.

One study did show that cryotherapy was an effective short term treatment of both anxiety and depression. In combination with therapy and psychiatric medication, cryotherapy could be a viable method for managing these and other mood disorders.

Helps With Chronic Skin Conditions

Eczema, acne, and atopic dermatitis (a chronic inflammatory skin condition) may be treatable with cryotherapy. Both whole-body and targeted cryotherapy has potentially powerful effects on skin health.

Cryotherapy can improve antioxidant levels in the blood, which reduces inflammation and helps manage dermatitis and acne. A 2008 study showed eczema patients saw improvements in symptoms with cryotherapy.

Cryotherapy Benefits: The Bottom Line

Cryotherapy is one of the most exciting new medical treatments currently on the market as it can help treat such a wide array of conditions. The above benefits are just a few highlights of what cryotherapy can do for the body, and more research is being done all the time. We are really only on the tip of the iceberg when it comes to cryotherapy’s potential.

Interested in cryotherapy? At CORR, our cryotherapy chamber features two rooms for optimal temperature control and our boost function helps members achieve their goal in only 2 minutes. Reach out here to learn more.