The meaning of cryotherapy is easy to remember, “cold therapy,” which is a technique where the body is exposed to very cold temperatures for several minutes and can be delivered to the entire body or to one designated area. Localized cryotherapy can be administered through ice packs, ice massage, coolant sprays, ice baths, and through probes administered into body tissue.

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For whole-body cryotherapy (WBC), it is believed that health benefits can be derived from immersing the body in really cold air for several minutes. This would require standing in an enclosed chamber or a small enclosure that surrounds their body with an opening at the top for your head. The enclosure will drop to temperatures between negative 200–300°F as you stay in this ultra-low temperature air for somewhere between two and four minutes.

Benefits can come from one session of cryotherapy, but it’s even more effective when it is used on a regular basis. There are athletes that use cryotherapy twice a day, while others go daily for ten days and then once a month afterward.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) IV therapy is an intravenous treatment that can stimulate cell regeneration in your body. Whether you are looking nad therapy nyc or in another major city that offers these services, understanding how cryotherapy works and what it can offer you is the important first step, so follow along below to learn about the benefits to decide for yourself.

Reduces Migraine Symptoms

Cryotherapy can come to the rescue by helping to treat migraines by cooling and numbing nerves in the neck area. In fact, it has been found that applying a neck wrap that has two frozen ice packs in it to the carotid arteries in the neck can be rather effective in reducing migraine pain because it is cooling the blood passing through intracranial vessels. The carotid arteries are accessible because they are near the skin’s surface.

Numbs Nerve irritation

Numerous athletes have been making use of cryotherapy in order to treat injuries for many years, and one of the key reasons is that it has the ability to numb the pain. The cold can numb an irritated nerve, and then doctors will treat that affected area with a small probe inserted into the nearby tissue to treat issues like pinched nerves and chronic pain.

Helps Treat Mood Disorders

The ultra-cold temperatures that are used in whole-body cryotherapy can cause physiological hormonal responses, which include the release of adrenaline, endorphins, and noradrenaline as well. The positive aspect of this result is that it can have an agreeable effect on those experiencing mood disorders such as depression and anxiety and depression.

Reduces Arthritic Pain

Localized cryotherapy treatment isn’t the only option for you to consider when it comes to choosing an effective method of treating serious conditions because whole-body cryotherapy has been known to reduce pain in people that are suffering from arthritis, also allowing for more aggressive physiotherapy and occupational therapy as well. This is really important because it can ultimately make the process of going through rehabilitation programs more effective.

May Help Treat Low-Risk Tumors

Localized and targeted cryotherapy can be used as a cancer treatment called “cryosurgery,” which is most effective when freezing cancer cells and surrounding them with ice crystals. Cryosurgery is currently being used to treat some types of low-risk tumors for some cancer types like prostate cancer.

Treats Skin Conditions Like Atopic Dermatitis

Getting cryotherapy work done can be a helpful choice for atopic dermatitis, which is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that has symptoms associated with it that include itchy and dry skin. Being that cryotherapy can improve antioxidant levels in the blood and can also simultaneously lower inflammation, it makes logical sense that both localized and whole-body cryotherapy can be of use when you are looking for a treatment solution for atopic dermatitis.

Risks and Side Effects

When it comes to any particular form of cryotherapy, the most common side effects are numbness, tingling, redness, and irritation of the skin, which are temporary in most cases. Contacting a doctor is only necessary if these issues last longer than a day.

Never use cryotherapy for longer than you are recommended for the type of therapy that you are using. People with diabetes or conditions that affect their nerves should stay away from cryotherapy because they may be unable to feel its effect, and that could cause more nerve damage.

Guidelines for Cryotherapy

As a rule of thumb, it is always a good idea to consult your doctor before jumping into any method of therapy. If you happen to be getting whole body cryotherapy, make sure that you wear dry, loose-fitting clothing, bring gloves and socks to prevent frostbite, and move around if you can to keep your blood flowing. Your doctor may suggest pre-cryosurgery preparations like not eating or drinking for 12 hours before.