Cryotherapy at Physio Logic

What is Whole Body Cryotherapy at Physio Logic?

Cryotherapy, also known as cold therapy or ice treatment, is a modern non-invasive method of treatment in which the external surface of the body is exposed to extremely cold temperatures for several minutes. The most effective cryotherapy treatment is whole body cryotherapy(WBC), where patients enter our single-person cryogenic chamber manufactured by one of the world’s leaders: Juka CryoSauna Chamber. The temperature drops between negative 200-300 degrees Fahrenheit by using liquid nitrogen, and treatment times last 3 minutes.

How Does Whole Body Cryotherapy Work?

When you enter a chamber, you are not coming into direct contact with liquid nitrogen, but you are close enough to the source that it rapidly drops the temperature of your skin. This rapid decrease in temperature has many physiological effects and ultimately triggers the release of B-endorphins, anti-inflammatory molecules, and increases the total anti-oxidative status of the patient. This has been shown to improve wellbeing, gives a positive relaxation effect, supports endurance and strength training, and is a method of biologic regeneration.

The Whole Body Cryotherapy Process:

• Start: The Chamber releases liquid nitrogen vapor ranging between -180˚F to -260˚F, for about 2-3 minutes.

• Thermoregulation: Although the cold temperature isn’t a threat to the body, it interprets it as so, and sends information to the brain (hypothalamus) from your receptors in an effort to maintain balance.

• Vasoconstriction: To maintain balance, the body redirects blood from superficial vessels and capillaries in the skin towards deeper structures, causing it to flow from the periphery to the central core.

• Vasodilation Rebound: Once the chamber is turned off, the body reheats itself through vasodilation, in which the vessels and capillaries quadruple their regular diameter and cause increased blood flow to the skin and extremities. This enriches cells with much more oxygen and enzymes than under standard conditions. 

• Hormone Release: Β-endorphins are released, which act as the body’s natural morphine. This has a pain-relieving effect throughout the whole body and also creates a sense of euphoria.

• Nerve Conduction Velocity Reduction/Pain Signal Adaption: The cold exposure drastically reduces the body’s ability to communicate pain signals. After multiple sessions, the body adapts its perception of pain stimuli. Over the course of several sessions, the body will adapt to its perception of pain stimuli, since the cold temperatures reduce its ability to communicate them.

• Muscle Relaxation: This leads to the relief of the patient’s musculoskeletal system.

• Anti-Inflammatory Response: The body’s white blood cells secrete small proteins (cytokines), either pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory, which are used in cell signaling and ultimately affect the behavior of other cells. During Whole Body Cryotherapy, pro-inflammatory cytokines are decreased and anti-inflammatory cytokines are increased, triggering a powerful anti-inflammatory response throughout the body.

• Oxidative Stress Reduction: The body faces an increase in total anti-oxidative status, achieving an improved ability to eliminate free radicals, naturalize toxins, and repair cellular damage. This process can also lead to a powerful anti-aging effect.

• Metabolism Increase: As part of the body’s metabolic reheating mechanism, additional calories are burnt, often to an extent that is similar to an intense workout. Studies suggest that an additional 400-800 calories are burned as a result of a single WBC session and that multiple sessions lead to a longer-term increase in metabolism, which can lead to weight loss.

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