The word cryotherapy is derived from the Greek words “cryo” meaning cold and “therapia” meaning healing. It refers to a procedure that uses extremely low temperatures to provide therapeutic benefits. In the late 1970’s a doctor in Japan began using freezing sessions of short duration on his patients’ skin surface for immediate relief of rheumatoid arthritis.
He soon came to the conclusion that this short-term freezing had a more beneficial effect than submerging the body in an ice bath. Further studies and research in Europe over the last 20-30 years have established whole body cryotherapy as a powerful tool for not only athletic recovery, but also a treatment for a variety of conditions and ailments.
Without NPTI Florida getting too scientific, it’s just all about reducing inflammation. Many of the reasons our Personal Training clients get sick, injured, or contract disease is due to excessive inflammation within the body. Think about it, if you twist your ankle or hit your head, one of the first things you do as a Trainer is grab a bag of ice to reduce the swelling.
Here’s how it works- Under incredibly chilly conditions with temperatures about 100 degrees colder than an ice bath, your body begins redirecting blood flow to your core where your major organs are located. Then, the blood vessels in your arms and legs constrict, reducing blood flow to those muscles and alleviating inflammation and the pain that goes with it. The highly oxygenated blood is then recirculated throughout the system. The obvious help in reducing swelling and pain, Cryotherapy has been cited to increase metabolism, reduce recovery time, mitigate depression, improve skin, and help with sleep. Cryotherapy is a way to reduce inflammation throughout the entire body in just a quick 3-minute treatment. Yes, just 3 minutes a few times a week and you will feel amazing! NPTI Florida has included the features and benefits of Cryotherapy in our classroom lectures and student field trips. Personal Trainers are incorporating the therapy as part of their client’s weekly sessions when available.
