Myths VS. Facts About Cryotherapy
If you are like literally millions of people all over the world who are curious about the trending sensation of cryotherapy, one common question is how cold is cryotherapy? This has been a topic for discussion that has raised eyebrows everywhere due to the multiple different answers out there that vary greatly. In fact, there are many myths out there about this revolutionary process that we will get straight in this post. The truth is: a WBC (whole body cryotherapy) chamber is set at approximately -230°F for 2-4 minutes at a time. This will keep your core temperature the same, since it's for such a short period of time, while bringing your skin temperature down to about 30°F. What this does is it puts your body into "survival mode", which redirects your blood flow inwards to protect your vital organs, reducing the flow to your extremities. Once you step out of the chamber, your blood flow returns to normal and brings fresh nutrient-rich blood to your muscles, joints and extremities. This process also temporarily increases your metabolism and releases endorphins like oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine, as well as hormones like adrenaline. In addition, it boosts your immune system. When exposed to this temperature, you always wear protective gear for your hands and feet, shorts and cotton underwear, and women should wear a sports bra. No metal is worn inside the chamber.
Myth: Cryotherapy Is Painful
This is another very common myth regarding cryotherapy treatments, is that they are painful. In truth, they are absolutely not painful at all, and in fact are invigorating and revitalizing. Some people report tingling sensations and an exciting adrenaline rush, some say it's a bit of a shocking feeling, but no pain. Remember, this treatment is used for many different reasons, one of the primary ones being to reduce pain and inflammation. You've almost certainly used another form of cryotherapy yourself, by applying an ice pack to an injury. In fact, cryotherapy is just another word for cold therapy, and its origins date back to at least 2500 B.C. when the Egyptians used it for pain and inflammation. In 400 B.C. Hippocrates (known as the father of medicine) is noted for using cold therapy for swelling and pain, as well. In a whole body cryotherapy chamber (WBC), liquid nitrogen gas is used to cool the air to reach the ultra-freezing temperatures quickly. The use of medicinal liquefied air goes all the way back to 1889 when Campbell White developed various methods of application. And WBC as it's known today is credited to Dr. Yamaguchi back in 1978, who discovered the use of freezing cold therapy on the surface of the skin for short durations was effective in helping patients with rheumatoid arthritis and many other kinds of painful conditions. Shortly after this discovery, whole body chambers were created. So you can see that this treatment is actually an ancient discovery that is safe, effective and not painful!
Myth: Cryotherapy Is Not Safe Or Approved
There are many rumors out there about cryotherapy treatments not being safe. This is mostly due to the fact that there is a lot of reporting that not enough research has been done, and that it is not medically supported or FDA approved. While some of this is true, such as the fact that it is not yet FDA approved, the majority of these claims are baseless. There has been a large amount of research done, and certainly many doctors who not only support it but use it themselves in cryosurgery treatments and skin lesion removals like warts and skin tags. The only thing that hasn't been FDA approved is WBC (whole body cryotherapy) chambers, likely due to the snail's pace and grueling procedures of the FDA's approval process. The truth here lies in the origins of cryotherapy, also known as cold therapy, as stated above. History tells us that is a safe and simple procedure that dates back thousands of years and has been used all over the world, for centuries. Doctors use it to remove warts and any type of skin abnormalities such as "skin tags", ETC.) every day. Cryosurgery is also used nearly as often, for removing cancerous tissue both inside and outside the body. Both of these types of procedures involve forms of cryotherapy that are widely and commonly used, without question. As for research, there is tons of it that has been done which support a majority of the claims regular users have been saying for years.
Celebrity Endorsements Among the multiple celebrities and famous athletes who support and openly endorse WBC and other cryotherapy treatments are entire professional athletic teams, such as the New York Knicks (who purchased two of their own cryotherapy chambers for the entire team to use), the Denver Nuggets, and the Kansas City Royals to name just a few. Some of the celebrities who endorse the procedure are people like Jennifer Aniston, Will Smith, Alicia Keys, Daniel Craig, Demi Moore, Harry Connick Jr., Mandy Moore and so many others they're too numerous to name. These stars and athletes swear by its anti-aging benefits and credit the procedure for helping them to stay in shape and youthful looking. The athletes use it after workouts to speed healing and improve performance. There are so many big names associated with the support of cryotherapy it is literally overwhelming!
And Furthermore…
If millions of people all over the world are professing their support and relaying their experiences with cryotherapy (or any new kind of treatment, for that matter) and the many benefits they are enjoying because of it, it begs the question as to why so many others seem to automatically discredit it. Especially when the treatment being discussed is just a more intense yet effective way of administering a remedy that is literally ancient. Furthermore, the fact that a treatment exists which could possibly help such a diverse group of people who are suffering with a myriad of conditions should at least be hopefully considered. In closing, hopefully your question how cold is cryotherapy was answered, and you've even learned some things you didn't know.
Just had cryotherapy? Find out what to expect after cryotherapy.
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