Whole Body Cryotherapy

    Whole Body Cryotherapy

By: Kyle Magyar

With all the new technology coming out, most modalities do not use updated methods. These methods still use common ice taken from a freezer to decrease swelling. It wasn’t till these last couple that we have started to update our modalites. Whole body cryotherapy is one of the most advanced technologies we use in rehab today. It has already shown to help a variety of problems, most that athletes run into and some the common individual has.

    How whole body cryotherapy, or (WBC),  works is by using nitrogen to spraying a dry air up to three minutes of skin exposure to temperatures between -200°F to -250°F.1 Any longer than that the body risks getting damaged and could lead to permanent damage such as frostbite. WBC is a great way to help with deep muscle soreness in athletes. Ice is already used and proved to help with soreness, so why would WBC be discredited. The cold stimulation shows positive effects on the muscular enzymes creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase, and it should be considered a procedure that facilitates athletes' recovery.2 The reason the cold temperature does not damage your body immediately is due to the dry air. It is actually the cold moisture that causes limbs to gain frostbite. The only downside to the new rehabilitation modality is the price it is required. There are already businesses open, one close to us already. It is located in Weatherford TX named the CryoIce House. They do a monthly membership charge of $250, but that gives you at least 30 sessions.

    This is still a developing modality and one I personally plan on trying. As long as you read into the business holding the service to make sure all regulations are in order, there should be no harm coming to you. If this has intrigued you please look into doing this. I believe this will become the new innovation that elite athletes will soon use in all professional sports.

References

1. Scottsdale Cryotherapy. 2016. What is Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC)?. Can be retrieved from: https://www.scottsdalecryotherapy.com/what-is-cryo-therapy/
2. NCBI. 2010 Jun 1, Whole Body Cryotherapy in Athletes. Pub-Med.gov. Can be retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20524715
3. Picture: http://www.theluxuryspot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/9503082_orig.jpg