Cryotherapy Reduces Appearance of Varicose and Spider Veins

Varicose Veins…say bye bye!

If you suffer from varicose veins, you may believe the only way to eliminate them is through painful surgery. You’d be wrong. Varicose veins can be extremely painful and leave you embarrassed to wear any clothing that reveals your legs. While only you and your doctor can make the final decision, there are alternatives that are easier and far less painful than undergoing surgery. While some of these alternatives include diet and exercise, there is also a more efficient treatment for varicose veins.

What causes varicose veins?

Genetics do play a role in the development of varicose and spider veins. But it is not the sole cause….

  1. Age: As you get older, your veins can lose elasticity, causing them to stretch. The valves in your veins may become weak, allowing blood that should be moving toward your heart to flow backward. Blood pools in your veins, and your veins enlarge and become varicose. The veins appear blue because they contain deoxygenated blood, which is in the process of being recirculated through the lungs.
  2. Pregnancy: Pregnancy increases the volume of blood in your body, but decreases the flow of blood from your legs to your pelvis. This circulatory change is designed to support the growing fetus, but it can produce an unfortunate side effect — enlarged veins in your legs. Varicose veins may surface for the first time or may worsen during late pregnancy, when your uterus exerts greater pressure on the veins in your legs. Changes in your hormones during pregnancy also may play a role. Varicose veins that develop during pregnancy generally improve without medical treatment three to 12 months after delivery.
  3. Excessive Weight: Weight also contributes to the development of varicose and spider veins–additional weight puts pressure on veins and blood vessels trapping blood and leading to the appearance of these veins.
  4. Standing or sitting for long periods of time without moving your legs. Blood doesn’t flow as well if you’re in the same position for long periods.

Improve your circulation to prevent or improve varicose veins.

Exercise and weight loss contribute to improving circulation in your legs, which will alleviate varicose veins. Eating foods higher in fiber, omega-3 and co-enzyme Q-10 can also help. Whole body and local cryotherapyhave also been shown to improve blood circulation and vein elasticity in the legs. The reason is that cryotherapy causes vasoconstriction of blood vessels and veins–this pushes pooled blood out of veins and blood vessels. When the body warms up, vasodilation occurs and fresh blood flows through these veins and blood vessels–this sequence can actually evacuate the veins and blood vessels of trapped blood that is causing the look of varicose and spider veins.  Additionally, the vasoconstriction/vasodilation sequence actually “exercises” your veins creating more elasticity.

You may see a marked improvement in the appearance of varicose veins following cryotherapy. Cryotherapy stimulates circulation, which helps improve their overall appearance. The cold causes vasoconstriction of blood vessels and veins which can evacuate them of trapped blood. You may also see a marked improvement in spider veins. Spider veins are simply small dilated capillaries that are very responsive to the vasoconstriction caused by cryotherapy

Cryotherapy can activate weight loss and corresponding improvement in varicose veins:

Cryotherapy sessions burn between 500 and 800 calories and have been shown to boost the metabolic rate. Losing weight relieves some of the pressure on veins and can help pooled blood flow more freely through the legs. This may improve the appearance of varicose and spider veins.

Better yet—cryotherapy has been shown to reduce fat deposits and cellulite—so in addition to fewer visible veins, you may lose inches and experience smoother skin!

How to Use Cryotherapy & NormaTec Dynamic Compression to Enhance Athletic Performance, Improve Health, and Reduce Cellulite & Varicose Veins

External dynamic compression therapy has been used since the 1960s to enhance the body’s natural circulatory and lymphatic systems. More recently, a rehab physician and bioengineer recognized the value of external compression for health, fitness, and cosmetic objectives. Dr. Laura Jacobs developed NormaTec Dynamic Compression initially to treat chronic wounds, lymphedema, and other circulatory diseases. What she found is that, while NormaTec dynamic compression sleeves are excellent for improving these medical conditions, they are also excellent for improving athletic recovery and performance and for improving cosmetic appearance and health. Currently, NormaTec compression systems are used to:

  1. accelerate athletic muscle recovery;
  2. reduce swelling and inflammation (post-operatively too);
  3. prevent and minimize varicose and spider veins;
  4. reduce cellulite and tighten loose, sagging skin.

The Normatec dynamic compression system is like a massage—both traditional and lymphatic drainage. The NormaTec system utilizes sequential pulsing of compressed air that massages, mobilizes fluid, evacuates lactic acid, inflammation, fat, and other byproducts. The system uses three techniques to facilitate this process; pulsing, gradients, and distal release.

Sequential pulsing essentially mimics the muscle pump of the legs and arms moving inflammation, fluid, fat, and metabolites out which is key in healing after an intense workout, surgery, disease, infrared sauna or cryotherapy. The sequential pulsing is divided into 6 zones to create a pressure gradient; the system uses a “hold pressure” technique that keeps fluids from being forced back in the wrong direction. The sequential pulse technology releases the hold pressure so the limb gains maximal rest time between compression cycles.

The ChillRx NormaTec system offers attachments for legs, hips, arms, and shoulders and has minimal associated risks; risks are equivalent to those associated with a standard massage. The intensity and duration of treatment are set based on the needs or desires of the client. Sessions generally run thirty to sixty minutes.

CoeurCryo recommends NormaTec utilization of post-cryotherapy or pre-infrared sauna to maximize the benefits of these treatments. NormaTec can be used prior to physical exertion to enhance performance—compression warms muscles and improves flexibility, helping to prevent injury. Utilizing NormaTec post-physical exertion helps improve recovery time allowing for more intense training and less pain.

CoeurCryo offers NormaTec as a stand-alone treatment or combined with cryotherapy and/or an infrared sauna. We recommend NormaTec post-cryotherapy and pre-infrared sauna because of its ability to enhance the benefits of these treatments.

Here’s how it works: Cryotherapy is extremely effective for mobilizing inflammation in the body. The physical action of cold causes vasoconstriction which physically pumps inflammation out of blood vessels, muscles and tissue. Cryotherapy also stimulates an anti-inflammatory biochemical response which reduces inflammation at the cellular level throughout the body. Both of these effects mobilize inflammation from cells throughout the body; NormaTec compression will facilitate the evacuation of this inflammation through the lymphatic and circulatory systems. It is an incredibly powerful combination and will significantly enhance the effects of cryotherapy treatment.

Similarly, CoeurCryo recommends NormaTec dynamic compression before and/or after infrared sauna treatment. The infrared sauna uses infrared light and heat to detoxify heavy metals, fat, and inflammation from tissues, muscles, organs, and cells. Compression post-infrared sauna will facilitate the evacuation of these unwanted substances from the body through the lymphatic and circulatory systems.

Who should use NormaTec Dynamic Compression?

What is Lymphedema?

Lymphedema is swelling that may occur in arms or legs, usually after lymph node removal or damage during cancer treatment. It can lead to skin infections and interfere with activities of daily living but can be treated effectively with cryotherapy and NormaTec dynamic compression.

What are Chronic, Non-Healing Wounds?

Poor circulation in the legs, often due to diabetes, can cause non-healing wounds and cellulitis. Cryotherapy combined with NormaTec can effectively treat chronic wounds and reduce wound recurrence.

What is Venous Insufficiency

Venous Insufficiency, where blood flow through the veins is impaired, can lead to swelling, pain, varicose veins, and even ulcers. Cryotherapy, infrared sauna, and NormaTec help restore circulation and treat venous insufficiency.

What is Prevention of DVT?

Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot in a vein deep in the body. Research has shown that DVT can be prevented with regular use of the NormaTec dynamic compression system.

Other Vascular Disorders

NormaTec dynamic compression therapy improves circulation and can help treat many other vascular disorders.

CoeurCryo can recommend a treatment program for medical conditions, cosmetic objectives, and athletic enhancement utilizing cryotherapy and NormaTec dynamic compression. Please call us with your questions!! 208-449-7671.