Ever heard of athletes taking ice baths? There is now a new treatment called Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC) that works similar to ice baths, but without the messy water and ice. WBC is a treatment that is becoming more and more popular among athletes, patients with chronic pain, and patients who just want to feel great. Able to improve a variety of conditions, WBC is a natural alternative to medications. Even sports stars like LeBron James utilize it!
What is Whole Body Cryotherapy?
WBC involves rapid cooling of a patient’s skin surface temperature. Patients step into a cryotherapy chamber that uses nitrogen to cool the air. Temperatures can reach below 250 degrees Fahrenheit. While this may sound unbearable, patients only stay in the chamber for a maximum time of three minutes. The skin temperature drops by thirty to fifty degrees within this time.
Because of the extreme temperature drop, your body reacts to protect you. It goes into survival mode, and draws your blood inward to preserve your core. There, the blood picks up nutrients and when the blood returns to the rest of your body, the nutrients are dispersed. This reaction also triggers the regulatory system, anti-inflammatories within the body, and endorphin's.
What are the Benefits of Whole Body Cryotherapy?
WBC can help relieve symptoms of many ailments, including both physical and mental conditions. Some of the conditions that may benefit from WBC include chronic pain from arthritis, fibromyalgia, and degenerated spinal discs. It can even relieve depression, boost immune system response, and reduce chronic fatigue syndrome. In addition to medical benefits, WBC works great for fitness. Some fitness-related benefits include faster recovery from muscle soreness, increased energy, decreased recovery time from injury, and improved joint function.
What is it like to experience Whole Body Cryotherapy?
Patients will first strip down to their underwear and socks. They will also wear slippers, gloves, a mask, and earmuffs. Patients will wear a robe until they enter the cryotherapy chamber. The chamber will cool down the air to around 250 degrees Fahrenheit and you will remain in the chamber for two to three minutes. When the session is over, your body will begin to warm back up instantly as your blood moves back to your extremities. Many patients say they experience a warm and tingly sensation. Increased energy levels are commonly experienced within a few minutes.
If you believe that Whole Body Cryotherapy may benefit you, be sure to schedule an appointment with us!