Cryotherapy Is the New Way to Beat Pain

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    Imagine stripping down to your undies or bathing suit and popping inside a freezing cold tank to provide pain relief.

    And we aren’t just talking freezing which is 32 degrees Fahrenheit… whole body cryotherapy treatment (otherwise known as WBC), exposes your body to subzero temperatures as low as -200 degrees Fahrenheit!

    Sound miserable?  Or even insane?

    Perhaps.

    But it’s not as bad as it sounds and can actually provide pain relief.

    Because the cold air is dry, you won’t feel the same pain as you would by jumping in an ice bath.

    In addition, your head remains above the low temperature area and the low temperature your body endures doesn’t change your internal body temperature.

    Most sessions are short and last between two and three minutes.

    And don’t worry, depending on the place you go you’ll get protective socks, boots, gloves and a wrap-around towel or robe to wear while you’re inside the tank.

    Still wondering how it all works?

    Cryotherapy Indy reported:

    WBC is a process of exposing the body to ultra-cool air for no more than 3 minutes at a time in order to trick the brain that the body is freezing, triggering the body’s natural healing mechanisms. As your core works intensively to heat blood and transport it to your extremities, circulation is increased, purifying blood by replacing harmful toxins with oxygen. This oxygen-purified blood, full of hormones and enzymes, then courses to your muscles and organs, accelerating healing and recovery.”

    And if you’re brave enough to take the plunge, you can find relief for these common ailments:

    1. Joint & Muscle Pain Relief

    Those of us who struggle with joint and muscle pain never seem to find true relief.

    From heating pads to icy hot, nothing seems to work, and the pain lingers on which can seriously hinder our quality of life.

    Doctors have long recommended applying an ice-pack to provide relief to sore aching muscles.

    But taking it one step further, many people who suffer with joint and muscle pain have found relief from a whole-body cryotherapy treatment.

    Medical News Today reported:

    “Cryotherapy can help with muscle pain, as well as some joint and muscle disorders, such as arthritis. It may also promote faster healing of athletic injuries…

    A study published in 2000 found that cryotherapy offered temporary relief from the pain of rheumatoid arthritis. The research found that cryotherapy with ice packs could reduce the damaging effects of intense exercise. People who used cryotherapy also reported less pain.”

    So if you suffer from joint and muscle pain, give cryotherapy a try!

    1. Migraine Help

    Migraine headaches are a debilitating headache causing crippling pain, often leaving the sufferer immobilized until the pain stops.

    The American Migraine Association reports more than 1 billion people around the world people suffer from migraine headaches.

    Doctors are so quick to prescribe prescription drugs to stop the pain, and many migraine sufferers are desperate for relief so they’ll try anything.

    But before you reach for that bottle, try a session or two of cryotherapy.

    Some studies support the use of targeted cryotherapy focusing on the head and the neck.

    In fact, NIH confirmed placing a frozen neck wrap around the neck once a migraine begins can dramatically reduce the pain in those who suffer from a migraine.

    Other studies have shown targeted cryotherapy can help reduce pain, but not eliminate it completely.

    Medical New Today reported:

    “Targeted cryotherapy that focuses on the neck may help prevent migraine headaches. In a 2013 study, researchers applied cryotherapy to the necks of people who had migraines. The treatment reduced but did not eliminate their pain.”

    If you suffer from migraine headaches, it might be worth looking into!

    Whole body cryotherapy is certainly controversial but loyal users swear by the benefits.

    Like with any treatment, there are always risks. So be sure to check with your provider and see if it is right for you.

    While more research is needed, most officials agree cryotherapy is generally safe, as long as it is performed at a reputable place.

    A reputable place will have you fill out a medical questionnaire to ensure you don’t have any medical problems that could be made worse under cryotherapy (such as cold-induced asthma, heart problems, etc.).

    If you aren’t comfortable with whole body cryotherapy, consider targeted area treatment which studies continue to show can provide pain relief.

    Look in your area for reputable cryotherapy and consider giving it a try!

    Were you surprised to learn the healing benefits of cryotherapy?

    Do you think you’d consider a whole-body cryotherapy session?

    Tell us your thoughts in the comments below and be sure to share this article with your friends and family to let them know the benefits of cryotherapy!