How Can I Get the Most From My Cryotherapy Treatment?

Cryotherapy is a treatment that’s becoming increasingly popular due to its ability to aid sports recovery, enhance athleticism, boost the immune system and beautify the skin, among other benefits. But like any other therapy, maintenance is key if you want the best results. Here’s how you can get the most from your cryotherapy treatment and maximise the benefits for longer.

JBV_5540 2

It’s Best Combined With a Healthy Lifestyle

Cryotherapy isn’t a miracle cure and although the benefits are remarkable, you’ll experience them at their best if you merge the therapy with a healthy lifestyle.

We already know the importance of a balanced diet, regular exercise and a beauty regime. They help us look better, feel better and live a longer, happier life. Cryotherapy can enhance these benefits.

For example, it’s recommended that everyone should try to be active on a daily basis and aim for at least 30 minutes of activity a day. Those who want to lose weight or tone up should aim for even more. But physical activity takes a toll on the body and when you’re left with tired, aching muscles, it becomes even harder to exercise.

Various studies have found that cryotherapy can help reduce muscle soreness and enhance muscular repair. That’s why athletes, both professional and amateurs, have turned to cryotherapy to help with pain management and recovery.

Cryotherapy boosts blood circulation which enhances the exchange of nutrients and waste products in cells. When combined with clean eating, your body’s systems can perform even more efficiently as better quality nutrients can reach the cells at an enhanced rate (due to the boosted circulation that cryotherapy brings).

This can then help maximise the benefits of exercise. Nutrient-enriched muscles can work harder and you’ll see more benefits from your training regime.

Maintenance is Key

Like with many things in life, you can’t have one cryotherapy session and expect to see full-blown benefits within seconds. Nor do the benefits happen overnight. Although cryotherapy begins to improve your body instantly, having regular sessions of the therapy keep these benefits working and improving your body more and more.

But what if you lead a busy life with hardly any free time to squeeze in a new treatment? Unlike many other components of a healthy lifestyle, cryotherapy isn’t time-consuming at all. In fact, three minutes in the Cryotherapy Chamber is enough to start affecting your body.

Typical treatments last between three and 10 minutes, depending on the type you’ve chosen:

Whole body cryotherapy involves exposing the whole body to cryogenically cooled air for three minutes. It’s very short but it’s enough to kickstart the body into its enhanced healing and recovery mode.
Localized cryotherapy involves exposing just one area of the body to the cooled air for three minutes. This is a great option for people who just want to treat a specific area of the body such as a knee injury or even just to reduce the appearance of cellulite.
A cryo facial works on just the face and the cold air reduces the surface temperature to between seven and eight degrees. It takes around 10 minutes and helps to increase blood flow to the area, boost collagen production and tighten pores, which helps your complexion look younger and more radiant.

Because it’s such a short session, cryotherapy can easily be fitted into a tight daily schedule.

How Many Sessions Should I Aim to Have?

The majority of cryotherapy specialists recommend programs of at least three sessions a week. This depends on the treatment and the results you want to achieve. Cryotherapy consultants will help you come up with a customized treatment plan, based on your goals and condition of your body.

At °CRYO, we recommend seven to 10 sessions either a few days apart or over a two to three week spread if you want to optimize your benefits and maintain them. Newer clients should aim for their sessions to be closer in succession while regulars can have one to two a week, depending on their goals.

Remember That Cryotherapy is Not a Miracle Cure

Cryotherapy has some impressive physical benefits, but it’s important to remember that the treatment isn’t a miracle cure. You can’t have the recommended number of treatments but lead an unhealthy lifestyle and expect to turn into a super human with an enhanced physique overnight. It’s best used alongside a healthy lifestyle.

It works best when complementing an existing healthy lifestyle and helps multiply your existing efforts, thanks to how the treatment makes your body react.

Cryotherapy is a cold treatment which involves exposing the body to temperatures as low as -140℃. The subzero temperatures cause the body to think it’s under threat so the survival mechanism (“fight or flight mode”) kicks in. This involves various chemicals being released, including adrenaline, which boosts heart rate and improves overall blood circulation. All of this is what brings the benefits of cryotherapy.

To use a sports specific example, it means your muscles are receiving better oxygenated blood and aren’t as inflamed. This means they recover quicker which, in turn, means you can train harder and more frequently.

Interested in Reading More About Cryotherapy and How it Works?

Cryotherapy stretches back to the Ancient Egyptian era where the people used extreme cold therapy to rejuvenate the body and stimulate healing. In modern medicine, the treatment is known to help manage pain, aid athletic recovery, improve sports performance and even has a number of beauty benefits such as increased collagen production.

Our all-in-one resource page details even more information about this exciting cold therapy. From a brief history to its benefits and what they can do for your body, our resource page will provide you with the ultimate guide to cryotherapy.

Wellness