bjjdoc.com visited Igloo Cryotherapy in Allentown, PA to find out first hand how cryotherapy is used by athletes and jiu-jitsu students after training.
Small tears, injuries, and strains are a natural byproduct of living an active life. In order to maintain ultimate health and performance however, it’s critical that these injuries are mitigated quickly and naturally. Cryotherapy increases circulation by exposing the body to ultra-cooled air, purifying the blood and transporting nutrients and oxygen to the body’s soft tissue. This accelerates healing, allowing you to reach your body’s ultimate potential.
The cryosauna is an upright, step-in chamber that releases nitrogen to decrease skin surface temperatures to approximately 32 degrees F. This is achieved in 30 seconds or less and remains nearly constant for the duration of the session, which lasts up to three minutes. Skin receptors immediately sense the cold and send brain signals to promote regulatory functions of the body, triggering the release of calming endorphins into the bloodstream.
Faster recovery allows you to have the consistent and frequent training schedule that is key to skill development and utmost performance, and cryotherapy can significantly accelerate recovery. Athletes with poor recovery and frequent injuries are unable to practice with the proper frequency and therefore are prevented from reaching their optimum performance level.
Cryotherapy can be used to effectively treat a number of conditions and to improve overall health. If you’re looking to decrease pain, accelerate muscle healing, or simply improve general health and wellness, cryotherapy may be the thing for you.
Cryotherapy for pain management has shown promising results in relieving chronic pain not only for arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other rheumatoid diseases, but also for migraines, muscle soreness, multiple sclerosis, and chronic pain syndromes. Increased blood circulation and energy and strength incurred following repeated cryosauna treatments, along with numerous complimentary mental health effects, promote general wellness and reduced occurrence of chronic pain.
Due to the endorphins released into the bloodstream during treatment, the body is relaxed as toxins are flushed away. This process creates a feel-good, energetic mood for clients which lasts up to eight hours. Most clients say they have the best night of sleep after a cryo session.
