5 Benefits of Cryotherapy

You may have heard that by the end of a hot shower, you might want to turn on the cold tap for an energizing shock. It is because the immune system responds well to extreme temperature exposures of the skin. Namely, heat and cold shock. Cold shock therapy stimulates a self-repair reaction due to whole-body thermodynamics. This short, extreme cooling of the skin (whole body) stresses the nervous system causing these repair responses. Indeed, cryotherapy is precisely that, taken to the next level. So, read along to learn about the 5 benefits of cryotherapy.

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What is Cryotherapy?

The word cryotherapy literally means ‘frost therapy,’ with ‘cryo’ coming from the Greek word ‘kryos’, or ‘frost’. It is a thousand-years-old method to soothe pain and improve blood circulation. What happens is that upon feeling the extreme cold temperatures against the skin, the hypothalamus reacts by releasing endorphins and norepinephrine to protect and repair. In turn, they block pain signals, boost our mood, energy, and the body’s antiinflammatory properties.

So let’s dig deeper into these benefits!

Reduced Inflammation

Specialists use cryotherapy to speed up recovery after exercise, reducing the period and magnitude of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). The cold shock against the skin makes blood vessels, capillaries, and lymphatics constrict. As they do this, they reduce the spread of fluid in the interstitial spaces, thereby minimizing inflammation, pain, edema, and muscular spasms.

Immune System Boost

The cold shock can stimulate the leukocytes, which fight off infection. WBC (whole body cryotherapy) may induce high circulating levels of cortisol, norepinephrine (NE, also known as noradrenaline), and epinephrine (Epi, also known as adrenaline), which in turn can raise circulating leukocytes and delay the production of proinflammatory cytokines.

Brain Protection against Damage

Cold shock increases the levels of RBM3 in the brain, a molecule known as the cold shock protein. RBM3 protects neuron connections. This phenomenon was first observed in hibernating animals. During hibernation, the protein helps protect the brain and allows it to continue to form new connections.

Antioxidant benefits

Cold exposure stimulates oxidative stress and increases the antioxidative buffering capacity. In layman terms, this is your body strengthening your defenses against potentially harmful cells that contribute to the aging process. It adjusts to the cold by changing the blood flow and how enzymes work to protect itself and balance the good and the bad.

Fat Burning

Cryotherapy has proven to contribute to fat burning. While users do not change their food consumption, they adapt to the short-term severe stress caused by the low temperature. As their bodies do so, there is a reduction in body mass.

Cryotherapy at Our Centers

Ready to start enjoying the benefits of cryotherapy? Our specialists are happy to answer your questions and underpin your cryotherapy experience. At our centers, Clinic 59 and Clinic 290, trained and certified professionals will guide you through the process.

If you want to try this state-of-the-art service, reach out to us. Click here to schedule an appointment online or contact us at 832 777 6650 for our Clinic 59 location or at (281) 888 2626 for our Clinic 290 location.