Cryotherapy is a medical procedure that exposes your body to extremely cold temperatures to relieve pain and inflammation. In recent years, home cryotherapy kits have become increasingly popular as people seek natural ways to relieve their pain without resorting to drugs or other forms of intervention.
If you’re looking for an effective way to manage your chronic discomfort, learning how to do cryotherapy at home might be the answer you’re looking for! Read on to find out what equipment you need, the different techniques used in this therapy, and the best way to practice it safely.
What is cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy is a modern alternative health practice that has exploded in popularity. It basically involves subjecting the body to near-freezing temperatures for several minutes. It is said to aid recovery after exercise, reduce inflammation and pain, and improve mental well-being.
Cryotherapy can be performed in a professional center or at home with one of the many systems available on the market. Additionally, some salons offer localized cryotherapy treatments that specifically target certain areas like the face and neck.
Despite its growing popularity, cryotherapy is still relatively new and research on its long-term benefits is limited. Still, many are confident that this innovative alternative treatment will continue to gain traction as studies are conducted in the years to come.
How to do cryotherapy at home?
You can also use the same cold therapy devices at home that are commonly used in hospitals and physical therapy clinics for pain relief. These devices, which come in different shapes, sizes and functions, provide targeted pain relief and can help speed healing.
Another way to perform cryotherapy at home is to place an ice pack or ice pack on the affected area. Some athletes choose to take an ice bath or just a cold shower after training. You should limit exposure to cryogenic temperatures with these methods to 20 minutes at a time. If you use an ice pack, wrap it in a towel to protect your skin.
What about whole body cryotherapy?
In recent years, a new form of cryotherapy has emerged called whole body cryotherapy. Instead of applying an ice pack to the affected area, you enter an enclosed cryotherapy chamber that encompasses the whole body in extremely cold temperatures. Whole body cryotherapy is not a medical treatment and is offered in gyms, spas and wellness centers.
What are the benefits of cryotherapy?
Is cryotherapy effective? You may have seen many claims about the benefits of cryotherapy for the whole body. These claims relate to diseases such as asthma, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, anxiety, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and many others.
Some of these claims are supported by preliminary research, but the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) warns that there is no evidence that this technique effectively treats any diseases or health conditions. Here’s what the research so far says about the benefits of whole body cryotherapy and targeted cryotherapy.
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Pain.
If you’ve ever iced a swollen ankle or an aching back, you know the relief the cold can bring. Indeed, the cold can numb your nerves and reduce the perception of pain.
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Muscle pain and recovery.
Targeted cryotherapy can reduce muscle soreness and inflammation after exercise. This can contribute to the prevention and treatment of sports injuries.
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Athletic performance.
The long-term benefits of cryotherapy for athletes include better recovery after exercise, reduced pain, better mood, and better overall quality of life.
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Migraines.
According to a study, targeted cryotherapy can help fight migraines. Researchers have determined that applying a neck wrap with two ice packs to the neck can significantly reduce migraine pain.
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Rheumatoid arthritis.
A study looking at the effects of whole-body cryotherapy on rheumatoid arthritis found that it significantly reduced pain in people with this condition.
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Skin conditions.
Skin conditions that are inflammatory in nature, such as atopic dermatitis, may benefit from cryotherapy, which is known to reduce inflammation.
