Cryotherapy FAQ
Cryotherapy is the practice of using cold temperatures to promote natural healing and wellness. It dates to ancient civilizations. Whole body cryotherapy is the modern application and stimulates the same rejuvenation at a whole new level of cold in just three minutes. At The Body Spa & Cryotherapy, we utilize dry nitrogen ‘flash freezed’ cold air in our cryotherapy machinery, providing you with even greater benefits.
Whole body cryotherapy was developed by Dr. Yamauchi in the 1970’s.
Survey results indicate many cryotherapy participants use cryotherapy for pain management, workout recovery, mental well-being, and weight management. Whole body cryotherapy is an excellent complement to exisiting health and wellness initiatives.
Participants who utilize cryotherapy before exercise claim they experience increased energy, endurance and flexibility. Participants who utilize cryotherapy after exercise claim they experience faster rejuvenation.
We encourage patients to concentrate on slow, methodical breath work to trigger the most thorough thermogenic response. During your first treatment, a staff member will walk you through the process and be visible to you from inside of the chamber. Slow stretching and movements are also beneficial. Your first treatment will last approximately 2-3 minutes depending on your previous cold therapy experience.
Although our system has a maximum session limit of 5 minutes and 45 seconds, the vast majority of our patients see benefit at 2 minutes, and never look to exceed this treatment time. Your safety and comfort is our priority and you may exit the chamber at any time during the session – there are no locks.
You will be provided thermal gloves, socks, cryo booties, a comfy robe, and a KN95 mask to make breathing more comfortable. DRY undergarments must be worn during your experience. If you do not have dry undergarments, a towel will be provided.
Survey results indicate participants report they experience benefits after 3-5 consecutive cryotherapy sessions. Many participants find that to maintain these benefits, they need to do cryotherapy 2-3 times a week. Impact Cryotherapy recommends clients participate in consistent cryotherapy sessions.
Anyone age 18 or older can enjoy cryotherapy if they meet the height and health requirements. Clients under the age 18 must have parental consent and a guardian present at the time of the session. The minimum age is 14 years old.
During a cryotherapy session, participants feel a dry cold. Many clients report feeling a sense of calm or rejuvenation after their session. Others report feelings of euphoria and/or energy.
Anyone with the following conditions should NOT particpate:
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Pregnancy
- Raynaud’s Syndrome
- Allergy to cold
- Prior heart attack
- Unstable heart pain
- Disease of the blood vessels
- History of blood clots
- Uncontrolled seizure disorder
- Nerve pain in feet and legs
- Open sores
- Any disease or condition with increased sensitivity to cold.
Yes, the door to the cryotherapy chamber is heated glass that enables you to see out for the duration of the treatment without condensation. Additionally, the door does not lock or even latch in any way, and can be pushed open at any point during your treatment. Simply exit the chamber whenever you feel your session is complete.
Unlike nitrogen cryotherapy, where liquid nitrogen is converted into a gas to cool the body directly, electric cryotherapy chambers use a closed loop refrigeration cycle to cool a large chamber: basically an ultra-low temp walk-in freezer. The resulting air that is completely safe to breathe, with no risk of asphyxiation. This allows us to treat the whole body of the patient, rather than needing to keep the head above the nitrogen gas. With the head and neck fully exposed to cryotherapy temperatures, the vagus nerve is activated, and treatment is more effective, while also making for a more comfortable experience. Imagine slowly wading into cold water, and then finally getting the face and neck cold. This exposure of the vagus nerve may feel more extreme, but it also controls our body’s ability to ramp up thermogenic activity, making the body create more heat.