Aches and pains are something that everyone experiences from time to time. A number of individuals experience ongoing problems with either pain or inflammation. Due to the prevalence of pain, there is an abundance of treatment options available to assist with its management and provide a higher level of comfort. Cryotherapy for the entire body is one treatment that has been more well-liked in recent years.
Cryotherapy, also known as cryogenic therapy, is a type of treatment in which the patient subjects their body to extremely low temperatures for a period of time. It is thought that exposure to low temperatures might assist decrease inflammation, which in turn can alleviate pain and other symptoms. The treatment’s proponents contend that it reduces swelling in a manner comparable to that achieved by applying ice to the affected area.
What You Should Be Aware Of Concerning the Cryotherapy Treatment
Cryotherapy of the entire body is not considered to be a form of medical treatment. It is not necessary to get a prescription written for you by a medical professional. You may receive cryotherapy for your entire body in health spas, fitness facilities, and wellness centres. But bear in mind that it is not a therapy for any ailment that has been authorised by the FDA.
Cryotherapy facilities are equipped with specialised tanks or chambers that may be chilled to temperatures that are much below freezing. They might reach temperatures as low as –200 or –300 degrees Fahrenheit.
The majority of tanks are at chest level. However, other tanks contain your complete body, ensuring that the temperature of your head remains constant. You are required to safeguard your hands, feet, and hearing by wearing protective clothing. In addition to this, the vast majority of individuals wear undergarments. During the treatment, you will be required to stand in the tank for a period of two to four minutes.
What Kinds of Conditions Does Whole-Body Cryotherapy Allegedly Help?
Whole-body cryotherapy is promoted as a potential remedy for a wide variety of medical conditions by the companies who produce cryotherapy tanks and run businesses that provide the treatment. According to the advertising, it can reportedly ease symptoms of:
Asthma
Alzheimer’s disease
Anxiety
Fibromyalgia and other forms of persistent pain
Depression
Migraines
Multiple sclerosis
There are several forms of arthritis.
Some proponents of the therapy assert that it can be beneficial in the treatment of obesity as well as sleeplessness. Some people believe that it can make your circulation better, speed up your metabolism, and reduce the discomfort you feel after an exercise.
Is Cryotherapy Effective When Applied to the Whole Body?
The Food and Drug Administration has not investigated any of the purported health benefits of whole-body cryotherapy and advises anybody considering attempting it to proceed with extreme care. The tanks have not been given approval by the EPA as a therapy for any of the health issues that are now available.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviewed a few research that looked at the effects of whole-body cryotherapy. It came to the conclusion that they do not provide sufficient proof that the therapy is effective in treating any medical issues.
According to the findings of earlier research, whole-body cryotherapy may help relieve the discomfort associated with sports injuries. The following conditions may benefit from cryotherapy treatment:
Inflammation. The temperature of your skin as well as your muscles can be lowered via cryotherapy. It’s possible that this will assist with the discomfort and swelling. The result is comparable to that of utilising ice packs.
Recuperation following physical activity After a strenuous workout, cryotherapy may help minimise muscle discomfort. There is no indication that it will increase the performance of your next workout in any way. It also does not mitigate the amount of muscular damage that is brought on by strenuous exercise.
Joint conditions. If you have a frozen shoulder, you could benefit from cryotherapy. A frozen shoulder is a condition in which the shoulder becomes immobile and cannot be moved.
The Dangers Involved with Whole-Body Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is not associated with a significant number of beneficial outcomes. However, there are obvious dangers involved. Exposure to excessive cold can cause damage. After undergoing whole-body cryotherapy, some individuals have reported adverse reactions such as frostbite or rashes brought on by the cold.
The excessive cold may also exacerbate other health concerns you already have, including the following:
Unhealthy levels of blood pressure
coronary artery disease
Lung disease
a lack of adequate blood circulation
Allergy symptoms induced by cold
Neuropathy affecting either the legs or the feet.
Different Varieties of Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy of the whole body is not considered a legitimate medical treatment. However, there are other varieties of cryotherapy that are both safe and effective. The aberrant tissue can be subjected to a very cold environment using liquid nitrogen, which will cause the tissue to freeze and eventually be destroyed. This is a frequent method of therapy for a variety of skin diseases, including moles, warts, and skin tags.
In addition, cryotherapy can be used to treat some forms of cancer. It is able to zero in on localised clusters of aberrant cells within your body and eradicate them. In most cases, this is a non-surgical treatment that only requires a small amount of cutting and stitching. Cryotherapy is used by doctors to treat a variety of conditions, including:
Bone cancer
Cancer of the cervix or the presence of precancerous cells on the cervix
Cancer of the liver
Prostate cancer
Precancerous skin lesions as well as skin malignancies in their early stages
Cancer of the retina known as retinoblastoma primarily affects youngsters.
If you are thinking about undergoing whole-body cryotherapy, you have to first consult with your primary care physician. Everyone is at risk when the temperature drops dangerously low. It is possible that you will not be able to tolerate the therapy if you already have pre-existing medical issues.