Therapist near you describes 5 different types of cryotherapy techniques

Cryotherapy is a form of medical treatment which involves the use of extremely cold temperatures to treat certain health conditions. Cryotherapy is popular among athletes for treating sports-related injuries. It is also gaining traction in the health and beauty industry. There is some evidence that suggests that immersing oneself in sub-zero temperatures can lead to youthful-looking skin and may aid in weight management.  

The rationale behind cryotherapy is that exposing the body to extremely cold temperatures at cellular levels delivers therapeutic effects. Cryotherapy is used for treating the following ailments:

• Ligament and muscle injury
• Swelling in joints
• Cancerous lesions
• Warts and skin tags
• Migraine
• Mood disorders

Cryotherapy can be administered in a number of ways, depending on the condition which is to be treated. Let us take a look at the most common methods for administering cryotherapy. 

Whole Body Cryotherapy

This is the most advanced form of cryotherapy which involves immersing the entire body in a cryogenic chamber for a short time. The cryogenic chambers use liquid nitrogen to cool the temperature to minus 120 degrees. Before entering the chamber, the patient dons the following protective equipment:

• A bathing suit
• Gloves
• Socks
• Ear and mouth covering

This protective equipment saves the patient from getting frostbite. Whole-body cryotherapy is a more effective alternative to cold water and ice packs. It is recommended that the patient should not stay inside the cryo-chamber for more than 3 minutes. Whole-body cryotherapy offers the following benefits:

• Stimulates endorphins
• Acts a natural painkiller and relieves muscular and joint pain
• Treats insomnia

Partial Body Cryotherapy

In this type of treatment, special chambers called Cryosaunas are used. They are cylindrical chambers that provide an opening at the top. This allows the patient to stick his head outside to remain unaffected by the cold stimulus. The difference between partial and whole body cryotherapy lies in the usage of nitrogen gas. Partial Body Cryotherapy uses evaporated liquid nitrogen in the cryosaunas. 

Ice Pack Therapy

• This type of cold treatment is directed at a certain body part. It involves the placement of an ice pack over an injured area. Ice packs absorb the heat from the injury, reduces inflammation, and aids in speedy recovery. This type of therapy is helpful in healing minor injuries and relaxing sore muscles. Athletes use ice packs for quick healing of injuries that may occur on the field. The recommended time for placement of ice pack at the injured site is 10 minutes.  

Instant Ice Pack Therapy

This type of cryotherapy delivers fast results and is an effective alternative to crushed ice. For this type of therapy, a device comprising of two bags is used. The inner bag comprising of ammonium nitrate is placed in an outer bag that is filled with water. The device is placed at the injured site. After that, the outer bag is squeezed which breaks the inner bag and ammonium nitrate is dissolved in water. 

• The mixing of both water and ammonium nitrate results in an endothermic reaction that lowers the temperature of the surrounding environment and absorbs the heat from the injured or affected site.  

Internal Cryotherapy

This type of cryotherapy involves the use of a cryoprobe that is inserted inside the body. A small cut is made on the body through which the cryoprobe is inserted inside the body. The cryoprobe treats cancer-causing cells or tumors. The cold temperatures delivered from the cryoprobe kill the cancer-causing cells which are then ingested by the immune system. 

This information has been brought to you by UCryo & Recovery.