Top 4 Cryotherapy Benefits
- Increasing blood flow. Applying anything like ice or gel packs restricts blood vessels which decreases blood flow. Ultimately, this tactic helps with muscle spasms, inflammation, soreness, and cramps. This process also helps decrease metabolic waste after a workout. Cryotherapy can also help stagnant fluids in lymph nodes move throughout the body.
- Increasing energy and strength. Because cold water stimulates the nerve endings in the skin, oxygen levels, heart rate, and respiration rate increase leading to increased energy levels and more alertness in the body. Full-body cryotherapy can also aid in overall cardiac function.
- Aids sore or stiff muscles. When applying cold therapy, skin temperature decreases while core body temperature remains the same. This allows for a slight release of endorphins and can trigger pain relief. Also, cold therapy can reduce overall recovery time allowing athletes to get back into the game or ready for the next workout.
- Reduces swelling. Speaking of being sore post-workout, delayed muscle soreness is often paired with swelling. When you apply ice or cold therapy after a workout, it decreases inflammation and allows small tears in muscles to heal faster.
What is cryotherapy?
There are several other cryotherapy benefits. But, the term “cryotherapy” can mean multiple different things.
By definition, cryotherapy is treatment by applying cold. The Cleveland Clinic provides a more comprehensive definition saying it is a treatment where a healthcare provider applies extreme cold.
When many hear the term, they picture the trendy full-body cryotherapy treatment which involves a person sitting in a chamber or pool and then exposed to frigid temps. But in many cases, cold therapy involves ice to a specific joint or aching body part.
How much does a cryotherapy machine cost?
Full body chambers are several thousands of dollars. However, purchasing a cold therapy device is much less expensive. Several companies make wraps that will hold ice packs onto an area. However, it is possible to recover by using iceless cold therapy devices.
PowerPlay offers a variety of joint wraps that include ice packs to help with cold therapy.
