CRYO 101

Records attesting to the effectiveness of cold therapy date back to 3500 B.C.. How it affects the body is pretty straightforward and to the point. While the studies involving cryo-chambers are relatively recent, they are compelling.

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WHAT IS WHOLE BODY CRYOTHERAPY?

Cryotherapy is the application of cold to a part of your body for therapeutic purposes. It has been around for centuries. Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC) is simply exposing all or a major portion of the body to cold temperatures. It includes full body ice baths and cryo-chambers specifically designed for such purposes. Cryo-chambers were first developed in Japan in 1978 as a treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis. They are designed to expose someone to extremely cold temperatures for short periods of time.

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RunSkeltonSQ400WHAT HAPPENS

Cryo exposes the body to extremely cold temperatures (-168 degrees & lower) for short periods of time (up to 3 min.). This lowers a person’s outer skin temperature by 30 to 40 degrees. The mind thinks you are freezing and your body goes into survival mode. This tricks the body into doing a whole lot of great things.

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YOUR FIRST CRYO-SESSION STEP-BY-STEP

  1. Before your first session, you will complete a health history to ensure there are no contraindications to treatment.
  1. You are then escorted to the cryo-room where you will change out of your clothes. Men need to wear briefs or boxers. Women can wear underwear but it is not necessary. We will provide you with fresh socks, gloves, slippers and a robe. The robe is removed once you are in the chamber. Socks, gloves, and slippers are required to protect the extremities. Privacy is very important to us! We will only see your face, as the rest of your body will be in the cryosauna.
  1. Before commencing the session, the technician will raise the inside platform so that your head is above the rim of the chamber. Once in place, the session will begin and you will be surrounded by nitrogen gas. You will immediately feel the cold and your blood vessels near the skin will quickly constrict sending blood to the major organs in order to maintain core body temperature. The session normally lasts three minutes.
  1. Once you step out of the cryochamber and into a room temperature environment the blood vessels quickly dilate (vasodilation) and the blood rushes back to the skin. Within 1-2 minutes, you will begin to warm up and should feel invigorated. Now you can enjoy the rest of your day feeling Repaired, Recovered and Rejuvenated!

CRYOTHERAPY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - FAQ

  • WHAT IS WHOLE BODY CRYOTHERAPY? +

    Cryotherapy is the application of cold to a part of your body for therapeutic purposes. It includes many things from ice packs, ice baths, cold showers to surgical procedures designed to destroy diseased tissues. Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC) is simply exposing all or a major portion of the body to cold temperatures. It includes full body ice baths and cryo-chambers specifically designed for such purposes.

  • WHAT IS A CRYO-CHAMBER? +

    Cryo-chambers were first developed in Japan in 1978 as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. These chambers are designed to expose people to extremely cold temperatures (-168 degrees or lower) for short periods of time (up to three minutes). This results in a rapid decrease of temperature of the outer layer of skin triggering a cold stress response in the body. The use of cryo-chambers has grown over the years. It has especially taken hold in Europe where there has been a good deal of research and a growing body of evidence as to its efficacy. They were introduced in the United States about 10 years ago where its use has gained increasing popularity especially among elite athletes, professional sports teams, and physical therapists.

  • HOW DOES IT WORK/THE SCIENCE? +

    Cryo-chambers use hyper cooled air to trick the brain into a systemic cold stress response whereby blood vessels to limbs are constricted (vasoconstriction). This redirects blood to the body’s core in order to protect vital organs. Once the session is over, the constricted blood vessels expand (vasodilation) and blood rushes back to limbs and extremities. This is a natural reaction which activates and optimizes a number of biological functions. During the constriction phase, the body’s organs do what they’re supposed to do. Toxins are flushed from peripheral tissues and blood is enriched with oxygen, enzymes and nutrients for return to outer limbs. The rapid contraction and expansion of vessels, not unlike resistance training, strengthens and helps optimize the circulatory system. As the body warms itself, the body begin to generate heat, or energy. This is done by an increase in the body’s metabolic rate(increased calorie burn). This will continue for some time after the session. The body also releases into the blood stream several chemicals and hormones, all related to the fight or flight response. These include endorphins, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. Endorphins are morphine-like chemicals that help diminish pain and trigger positive feelings. Norepinephrine acts as both a neurotransmitter and a stress eliminating hormone. As a neurotransmitter, it increases alertness and arousal and speeds reaction time. As a stress hormone, it increases heart rate, triggers release of sugar into the blood, and increases blood flow to muscles. Epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, makes the heart beat stronger and diverts blood to tissue.

  • ARE CRYOCHAMBERS SAFE? +

    Yes, they have been in use for over 30 years and have an excellent safety record. Shortly after their introduction into the United States they were evaluated by FDA and deemed not to be a medical device. Risks include a spike in blood pressure by about 10 points (This quickly reverses itself post session after peripheral circulation returns to normal.) As such, people with severe uncontrolled hypertension (BP>160/80) should avoid using. Other risks include a very slight chance of chilblains (redness and irritation of skin) and dizziness if a person does not keep their head above the mist.

  • WHO CAN BENEFIT? +

    Whole Body Cryotherapy is ideal for athletes seeking muscle recovery, people with chronic pain and inflammatory conditions, and those seeking to have a better overall sense of well-being. It can also be used post-surgically to accelerate the healing process and reduce pain without the side effects of medications or anti-inflammatory drugs. Younger clients under the age of 18, cannot use Whole Body Cryotherapy without their parent’s consent.

  • WHO SHOULD NOT USE WHOLE BODY CRYOTHERAPY? +

    Women who are pregnant or anybody with the following conditions should not do whole body cryotherapy: untreated hypertension, history of heart attack or stroke, unstable angina, prior open-heart surgery, pacemaker, COPD, chronic liver disease, DVT, Raynaud’s Disease, active infection, vasculitis, severe anemia, diabetes, acute kidney/urinary tract disease, polyneuropathy, and seizure disorders.

  • IS NITROGEN SAFE? +

    Yes, nitrogen is a non-toxic, odorless, natural gas. The air that we breathe is made up of 78% Nitrogen. Although nitrogen is non-toxic, directly inhaling the nitrogen cooled air can lead to dizziness. Care should be taken to ensure the head is above the mist.

  • HOW LONG DOES A SESSION LAST? +

    Maximum three minutes. Most people, if they are just there for Cryo, are usually in and out of the office in fifteen minutes.

  • IS THERE ANYTHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO PREPARE FOR A SESSION? +

    Just show up. You need to be sure your skin is dry. For that reason, it is probably a good idea to wait an hour or so after strenuous exercise to allow for an adequate cooled down period.

  • HOW OFTEN SHOULD IT BE DONE? +

    Frequency is very much dependent on personal circumstances, level of exercise intensity and purpose of treatment. If the purpose has to do w/sports related injuries or alleviation of chronic pain, then frequent sessions (up to 5 x’s/wk.), especially in the beginning, make sense. Over time, as conditions improve frequency can be scaled back. Frequent sessions may also make sense for elite athletes who engage in strenuous exercise every day. Most people, however, report that 1 to 3 sessions per week, again depending on frequency of high intensity exercise or level of pain, is enough to promote faster recovery, improve sleep and promote a better sense of physical and emotional well-being. Just as critical to frequency is consistency over time. As is the case with most things health related, those who maintain a consistent regimen over the long haul achieve greater benefits.

  • HOW DO YOU FEEL AFTER A SESSION? +

    Skin will feel cold and slightly uncomfortable during and immediately after a session. Post session, the vast majority of people report an elevation in mood and energy. This is due to the sudden release of endorphins (think of a runner’s high) which are morphine like chemicals/hormones that diminish pain and trigger positive feelings.

  • CAN I DO IT IF I HAVE JOINT REPLACEMENTS OR BREAST IMPLANTS? +

    Yes, in fact a number of members report their original impetus for trying cryotherapy was to aid in pain management and swelling post joint replacement surgery. Breast implants pose no problems.

  • WHAT IS NORMATEC COMPRESSION TREATMENT? +

    Compression treatment for legs, shoulder, and arms is an adjunct treatment used to facilitate faster muscle recovery. It has been clinically shown to relieve the tired feeling and aid in the removal of excess fluid and lactic acid following strenuous workouts. Packages offer significant savings over single session pricing. Also, membership includes sessions of NormaTec compression therapy and vibration power plate detoxifying and toning, as well as more sessions of cryotherapy. Ask your Better Health Cryo Technician for details!
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