Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC) is demonstrated to effectively reduce pain and enhance rehabilitation programs. It is a non-drug therapy which dates back to ancient Greece. Hippocrates recommended treatment with snow an ice to recover from injury after battle.
The arguable inventor of Whole Body Cryotherapy Dr. Yamaguchi[i], used short sessions of cold applied to the skin of rheumatoid arthritis patients and found the rapid decrease of temperature of the outer layer of skin led to the immediate release of endorphins and therefore less sensitivity to pain. This will obviously allow better ability to perform rehabilitation exercises and activity
Researchers and practitioners in Europe have found significant benefits of Whole Body Cryotherapy over 30 years of use helping patients suffering from chronic inflammatory conditions, pain, as well as to enhance elite athlete’s training programs.
WBC has been demonstrated to increase the activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase along with glutathione S-transferase. These antioxidant enzymes increase the bodies capacity to soak up damage and enhance healing.
A review of the literature[ii] found that WBC improves acute recovery after tissue damage and this is induced by enhanced oxygenation of the working muscles, as well as a reduced cardiovascular strain.
WBC is demonstrated to reduce muscle pain as well as aiding recovery of athletic capacity and performance. Further benefits of WBC treatment included reduction of systemic inflammation and lower concentrations of markers for muscle cell damage.
WBC improves recovery from muscle damage, and studies show that multiple exposures more consistently exhibit improvements in recovery from pain, loss of muscle function, and markers of inflammation and damage. Cryotherapy has even been shown to help reduce perineal pain in women in after vaginal birth with episiotomy[iii].
WBC is demonstrated to reduce the need for painkillers in osteoarthritis patients. It improved the range of physical activity and had a positive effect on the well-being of patients[iv].
In summary WBC is shown to:
- Reduces inflammation, swelling, pain and muscle soreness
- Enriches blood with oxygen, nutrients and enzymes
- Increases antioxidant enzymes defence systems and reduces oxidative stress.
- Enables the body to handle more intense and higher volume training
- Boosts energy & improves muscle unit activation
- Helps speed recovery postoperatively
Come in and experience how Whole Body Cryotherapy will help you enhance your recovery and repair.
[i] http://www.wholebodycryotherapy.org
[ii] Rose C, Edwards KM, Siegler J, Graham K, Caillaud C.
Int J Sports Med. 2017 Dec;38(14):1049-1060. doi: 10.1055/s-0043-114861. Epub 2017 Nov 21
[iii] Effect of cryotherapy on relief of perineal pain after vaginal childbirth with episiotomy: a randomized and controlled clinical trial.
Beleza ACS, Ferreira CHJ, Driusso P, Dos Santos CB, Nakano AMS.
Physiotherapy. 2017 Dec;103(4):453-458. doi: 10.1016/j.physio.2016.03.003. Epub 2016 Nov 9.
[iv] Reumatologia. 2016;54(6):291-295. doi: 10.5114/reum.2016.64904. Epub 2016 Dec 30.
Subjective evaluation of the effectiveness of whole-body cryotherapy in patients with osteoarthritis.
Image Credit: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/aches-and-pains/a25907/how-to-treat-muscle-and-joint-injuries/
Comments are closed.