Have you heard of cryotherapy and wondered what all the fuss was about? Could this cold therapy bring you any benefit? We have experienced cryotherapy for ourselves and wanted to bring it to our Walnut Creek location so members could experience all the health benefits that cryotherapy offers.
What is Cryotherapy?
The term means “cold therapy.” You’re immersed in subzero temperatures (-195 °F in our chamber) for one to three minutes. And while that may not sound like your idea of a fun time, there are many reasons athletes like Steph Curry and Usain Bolt swear by cryotherapy to help their performance.
How Does it Work?
In cryotherapy, your body is exposed to very cold temperatures for a short time. It can be delivered to one area, or your whole body. It is a natural treatment that uses brief and intense exposure to gasiform nitrogen to lower your skin’s temperature. The skin signals the brain, which creates stimulation of immune and basic body systems, and in turn, releases endorphins and blocks pain. By immersing yourself in this extremely cold air, you may receive many health benefits.
Top Five Benefits of Cryotherapy
1) Pain Relief
Sometimes our bodies really take a hit. Working out, running marathons, standing or sitting for long periods of time, and just life in general can give us pain throughout our body. Cryotherapy can reduce pain as well as alleviate pain from chronic or degenerative conditions such as Fibromyalgia, Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Multiple Sclerosis and Chronic Pain Syndrome.
2) Weight Loss
Cryotherapy supports your weight loss efforts. Being cold forces your body to work harder, improving your metabolic rate. Each Cryotherapy session can help you burn 500 to 800 calories, reduce fat deposits, and improve your energy and stamina so you can keep up with life.
3) Mood Booster
The ultra-cold temperatures help release adrenaline, noradrenaline, and endorphins, while reducing cortisol stress levels in the body, all of which add up to boosting your mood. These physiological hormone responses can also help those experiencing anxiety or depression.
4) Preventing Dementia or Alzheimer’s
Chronic inflammation can trigger or increase Alzheimer’s and dementia. Cryotherapy reduces inflammation and can reduce the risk of developing these diseases. One study shows that Cryotherapy could potentially reduce the inflammation and oxidative stress that is associated with dementia and other age-related forms of decline.
5) Whole Body Wellness
At Forma, we believe in an integrated view of wellness and recovery. In addition to improving your immune system and stimulating your body’s natural healing abilities, Cryotherapy can help relieve migraine pain and help you sleep better. So whether you want to recover after your workout, or get relief from pain, Cryotherapy can help with your wellness goals.
Time for you to try it?
Now that you know some of the benefits of Cryotherapy, we’d love for you to try it with us. Individuals with certain health or medical conditions including a recent heart attack, seizure disorders, claustrophobia, or congestive heart failure should not try Cryotherapy before checking with their doctor.
Otherwise, Cryotherapy is safe for healthy individuals. And the benefits far outweigh the minimal risks. Check out some of our member’s videos to see how Cryotherapy worked for them.
