Description
Cryotherapy is a “super-cooling” dry cold session of the body. Vitality Wellness Center’s Whole Body Cryotherapy involves being enclosed in an extreme-cooled chamber, exposing the body to the ultra-low temperature of minus 75 degrees Fahrenheit, for approximately 3 minutes.
History and Safety
The first recorded history of the use of ice and cold exposure for healing purposes dates back to 2500 BCE in ancient Egypt, 4500 years ago. Modern use of chambers in Cryotherapy was developed in the 1970s by Japanese rheumatologist Toshima Yamaguchi and introduced to Europe, US and Australia in the 1980s. Today, Whole Body Cryotherapy is widely accepted as a safe and effective treatment for many modern ailments.
What to Expect
The guest is escorted to the Cryo-Room, where a technician shows them the chamber and its ease of use. The skin and clothing should be completely dry, and all jewelry removed before entering the chamber.
The guest first enters the pre-chamber, and allows a 30 second cooling period, to acclimate their body to the cold. Next the guest will enter the main chamber, where they stand alone in a -75 degree environment for an approximate 3 minute session.
Cryotherapy Benefits
Inflammation is a process in which the body takes white blood cells and moves them to areas of the body where there could be potential threats, such as bacteria and viruses. This process can also cause parts of the body to swell if too much fluid builds up. With cryotherapy, excess fluids are moved away from the site, allowing fresh blood to flow back into that part of the body and reducing swelling and inflammation.2
After working out, the muscles in the body need time to recover. Current research suggests that overall recovery time is reduced with cold compression therapy, allowing athletes to quickly get back to their games and workouts.3 Cold compression therapy may also help ease muscle pain and reduce the likelihood of muscle damage.
Sometimes, it’s a challenge to be as flexible as you want to be, especially after rigorously working out your muscles. Studies show that cryotherapy can help relax overworked muscles and improve flexibility.4 By focusing on problem areas, cold compression therapy may help loosen the muscles relatively quickly.
The muscles and tissues in the body need time to repair after being pushed to the limit or beyond. Cryotherapy can help accelerate the repair process by stimulating blood and lymphatic fluid movement, bringing much-needed nutrients and oxygen to the muscles and tissues.5 In addition, because inflammation is reduced, cryotherapy helps hasten repair and recovery.
Injuries, tears, and some muscle strain are part of an active life. Depending on your treatment choices, you’ll either quickly get back on the field or be sidelined even longer. By utilizing the benefits of cryotherapy, you can help the body heal faster, prevent new injuries, and protect old injuries from being aggravated.6
Cryotherapy has been safely and effectively used in hospitals and clinics for decades to help ease muscle and joint pain inflammation. What became quickly evident when people underwent the whole-body cryotherapy procedure was that their entire health system received a reboot, which can stimulate and rejuvenate not just points of inflammation, water retention and injury, but it may also boost metabolism, increase collagen production, skin rejuvenation and decrease the signs of aging.
Skin can become firmer and more toned, blemishes can be reduced, puffy weight from water retention may vanish. These results can last hours or even days and skin conditions can remain firm and supple between treatments. The more frequently Cryotherapy sessions are taken, the greater the results can be.
As we age our metabolism gradually slows, our energy can drop, toxins can build up and collagen beneath our skin slows production leaving our once elastic skin saggy, flat and wrinkled. Cryotherapy sessions can help with these natural signs of ageing with a simple and easy mini surprise of intense cold temperature, that can cause the mind and body to respond and get moving.
From observing the incredible health benefits that can occur following cryotherapy treatment, inside and outside the body, cryotherapy quickly shifted from hospitals to beauty and health clinics to be made available to the general public. The cold anti-ageing treatment was quickly received by Hollywood celebrities, who rely on great looks and radiating youth to secure long and successful careers.
A cryotherapy weight loss program can help by increasing your metabolic rate which, combined with regular exercise and healthy eating can be the best way to lose fat. After your CRYO treatment, your brain signals to the rest of your body to pump blood to your core to increase your body heat and therefore your metabolic rate. Then, the enriched blood rushes back out and through your body, which can boost immunity, cell renewal, and provide natural pain relief. Your body is therefore using a considerable amount of energy to heat back up again and this is how CRYO’s whole body therapy, as a supplement to your healthy eating and exercise plan, may assist you to achieve your weight loss goals.
Following regular, consistent whole body CRYO sessions, overseas studies have shown you can burn about 2000−3300 Kilojoules (kJ). That’s around 500 – 800 calories. So, a 3 minute CRYO session could be the equivalent of a 45 minute run. In order to achieve weight loss, you may need to burn an extra 500 calories per day. Cryo sessions may have you feeling amazingly energised as the cold temperatures trigger a rush of “good feeling” endorphins that can boost mood.
Pain relief and muscle healing
Cryotherapy can help with muscle pain, as well as some joint and muscle disorders, such as arthritis, and also promotes faster healing of athletic injuries.
Reduce Recovery Time
By utilizing the benefits of cryotherapy, you can help the body heal faster, prevent new injuries, and protect old injuries from being aggravated
Reduced inflammation
Doctors have recommended the used icepacks for centuries to treat localized inflammation for recovery, pain reduction and management purposes.
Muscle and Tissue Repair
Cryotherapy can help accelerate the repair process by stimulating blood and lymphatic fluid movement, bringing much-needed nutrients and oxygen to the muscles and tissues.
Help Weight Loss
Burn up to 800 calories a 3 minute CRYO session could be the equivalent of a 45 minute run
Boost Mood, energy and sleep patterns
Users report improved mood and a burst of energy as soon as the first session, including better sleep, less joint and muscle discomfort over time.
Contraindications
It is important to talk to a doctor before trying cryotherapy.
You should NOT use whole body cryotherapy if you have any of the following conditions: You are pregnant, have a pacemaker, symptomatic cardiovascular disease, arrhythmia, acute or recent myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, severe hypertension (>180/100), peripheral arterial occlusive disease, venous thrombosis, acute or recent cerebrovascular accident, uncontrolled seizures, Raynaud’s Syndrome, fever, tumor disease, symptomatic lung disorders, bleeding disorders, severe anemia, infection, severe claustrophobia, cold allergy, or acute kidney and urinary tract diseases.
Having a cryotherapy treatment for any longer than a few minutes can be fatal. A person must never sleep during cryotherapy, and they should time each session to ensure it is not longer than the recommended timeframe. Parental consent is needed for anyone 18 years or younger