Have you ever had an intense workout that left you feeling sore? Maybe for days?
Muscle recovery from physical activity may have a non-traditional answer to consider - cryotherapy.
Our adventure was hatched following the COMO wellness conference in April. Element Cryotherapy was there and providing mini facials. We liked the facial and thought, maybe there's more to explore. Fast forward several months and we were ready for the "WBC" - Whole body cryotherapy.
What is cryotherapy you may ask?
Cryotherapy, sometimes known as cold therapy, is the local or general use of low temperatures in medical therapy. This technique exposes the body to extremely cold temperatures for several minutes. The history of cryo goes back as far as 2500 BC when the Egyptians used cold to treat injuries and inflammation.
Today, cryo is a mainstay treatment for a wide variety of benign and malignant skin lesions. According to a Healthline.com article on the benefits of cryotherapy, touted benefits include help for muscle pain, inflammation, reduction of migraine symptoms, numbing nerve irritation and help for mood disorders by the release of endorphins, as well as treatment for atopic dermatitis and other skin conditions. It has also been theorized it may help prevent dementia.
Cryotherapy is also helpful for recovery from physical activity. It stimulates blood circulation, releases enhanced levels of endorphins and increases the oxygen and nutrient supply to the areas of the body that need revitalizing. Cryotherapy speeds up muscle recovery, reduces tissue damage, decreases inflammation and relieves pain by increasing cellular survival and strengthening the immune system.
In "WBC," the individual stands in an enclosed chamber that surrounds the body but has an opening for your head on top. The chamber will drop to between negative 200 to negative 300 degrees Fahrenheit. You can stay in ultra low temperatures for two to three minutes.
We were given wool mittens and cotton socks under wool ankle high footies to wear. The most common temporary side effects from any type of cryotherapy are numbness, tingling, redness and skin irritation. Contraindications - persons with diabetes or any conditions that affect a persons nerves, pacemakers and implanted medical pumps. There is a lot of anecdotal evidence and some research that claims that cryotherapy can offer health benefits, however whole body cryotherapy is still being researched.
For me, it offered a two-minute fun experience and made us feel temporarily like Olaf from "Frozen!"
BRRRRRR!!!!
Next time you overdo it in the gym, give cryotherapy consideration!
Both Lynne White and Barb Hartman have been occupational therapists for more than 25 years. The pair work on the acute care floor at Capital Region Medical Center specializing in the total joint program. White resides in Ashland, is a master gardener and loves to spend time with her 2-year-old granddaughter, Harper. Hartman resides in New Bloomfield, enjoys singing in her church and loves to spend time with her six grandchildren.