What Does Full Body Cryotherapy Do?

As we search for ways to improve our health and wellness, we're constantly introduced to new treatments and therapies. One of the more recent therapies gaining attention is full-body cryotherapy. Cryotherapy involves exposing the body to extremely cold temperatures for short periods of time, and proponents of the therapy claim that it has numerous benefits. In this article, we'll explore what does full body cryotherapy do, how it works, and what it can do for your health and well-being.

What does full body cryotherapy do? Learn about its many benefits.

What is Full-Body Cryotherapy?

Full-body cryotherapy involves exposing the entire body to very low temperatures for a short period of time, typically three minutes or less. During the procedure, the patient stands in a special chamber or room that is cooled with liquid nitrogen or another cooling agent. The temperature inside the chamber can range from -110°C to -140°C (-166°F to -220°F). The patient typically wears minimal clothing, such as shorts, a t-shirt, and gloves and socks to protect their extremities.

How Does Full-Body Cryotherapy Work?

The cold temperatures used in cryotherapy stimulate the body's natural healing mechanisms. When exposed to extreme cold, the body goes into survival mode, which triggers a range of physiological responses. These responses are believed to provide numerous benefits, including:

  1. Reduced inflammation - Cryotherapy is believed to reduce inflammation throughout the body. Inflammation is the body's response to injury or infection, but chronic inflammation can contribute to numerous health problems, including arthritis, heart disease, and cancer. By reducing inflammation, cryotherapy may help improve overall health and reduce the risk of chronic disease.
  2. Pain relief - Cryotherapy is also believed to relieve pain. The cold temperatures are thought to numb the nerve endings, which can reduce pain and discomfort. This may be particularly beneficial for individuals with chronic pain, such as those with arthritis or fibromyalgia.
  3. Improved circulation - The extreme cold temperatures of cryotherapy cause blood vessels to constrict, which can improve circulation. This can help deliver oxygen and nutrients to the body's tissues more efficiently, which can improve overall health and well-being.
  4. Boosted immune function - The body's natural response to extreme cold is to release a range of hormones and other chemicals that stimulate the immune system. This can help improve immune function and reduce the risk of illness.
  5. Improved mood - Finally, cryotherapy is believed to improve mood by triggering the release of endorphins, which are the body's natural mood-boosting chemicals. This can help reduce stress and anxiety and improve overall well-being.

What Does Full Body Cryotherapy Do?

There are numerous benefits associated with full-body cryotherapy, including:

  1. Reduced inflammation - As mentioned above, cryotherapy is believed to reduce inflammation throughout the body. This can help improve overall health and reduce the risk of chronic disease.
  2. Pain relief - Cryotherapy is also believed to relieve pain, particularly chronic pain. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals with conditions such as arthritis or fibromyalgia.
  3. Improved recovery after exercise - Some athletes and fitness enthusiasts use cryotherapy as a way to speed up recovery after intense workouts. The cold temperatures are believed to reduce muscle soreness and inflammation, allowing athletes to get back to their training more quickly.
  4. Improved mood - Cryotherapy is believed to improve mood by triggering the release of endorphins, which are the body's natural mood-boosting chemicals. This can help reduce stress and anxiety and improve overall well-being.
  5. Boosted immune function - The immune-boosting effects of cryotherapy may help reduce the risk of illness and infection.
  6. Weight loss - Some proponents of cryotherapy believe that it can help with weight loss by boosting the metabolism and increasing calorie burn.
  7. Reduced signs of aging - Cryotherapy may also help reduce signs of aging, such as wrinkles and sagging skin. The cold temperatures are believed to stimulate collagen production, which can improve skin elasticity and firmness.
  8. Improved sleep - Cryotherapy may also improve sleep quality by reducing stress and anxiety and promoting relaxation.

Full-body cryotherapy is a relatively new therapy that is gaining popularity for its numerous health benefits. By exposing the body to extreme cold, cryotherapy is believed to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, improve circulation, boost immune function, improve mood, and more. However, there are also potential risks and side effects to be aware of, so it's important to talk to your doctor before trying cryotherapy. With the right precautions, cryotherapy can be a safe and effective way to improve your health and well-being.

Sources:

  1. "Cryotherapy: What You Need to Know." Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 20 Dec. 2019, www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cryotherapy/about/pac-20385021.
  2. Klimenko, Elena. "Cryotherapy: Health Fad or Science?" Harvard Health Blog, 3 Jan. 2020, www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cryotherapy-health-fad-or-science-2020010318548.
  3. "Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC)." International Institute of Reflexology, 2016, www.reflexology-uk.net/whole-body-cryotherapy-wbc/.
  4. Solnik, Claire. "10 Benefits of Cryotherapy You Need to Know." Healthline, 10 Oct. 2019, www.healthline.com/health/cryotherapy-benefits.
  5. "Cryotherapy - Benefits and Risks." NHS, 2 July 2021, www.nhs.uk/conditions/cryotherapy/.

Cryotherapy: "Fight or Flight" Reduces Stress and Injury

Content provided by icelandcryo.com

Humans, as a modern species, are about 65,000 years old, and our ancestors go back 200,000 years. Long before we had doctors and hospitals, our bodies evolved ways to cope with stress and injury.

Inside our brains and bodies are very special chemicals specifically there to help us mend ourselves. But, how does one trigger the release of these wonderful chemicals?

After a strenuous workout, you may have experienced the “runner’s high”, which is a release of endorphins into the blood stream. The feeling is euphoric; some say it’s a second wind. You feel energetic and focused. Your mood is calmer and you sleep much better.

In the 1970’s doctors in Japan found that by super-cooling the human body for up to 3 minutes causes the brain to go into survival mode releasing the body’s own support chemicals to repair and reset the physiological workings of the brain and body. Endorphins are released as well as neurohormones from the hypothalamus. After four decades of research by European scientists, Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC) evolved into what today has become the new standard for recovery and rejuvenation.

Dovepress, The Open Access Journal of Sports Medicine states: “Although it was originally developed to treat chronic medical conditions, such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, WBC is being increasingly employed by athletes. Its effects include a reduction in inflammation, analgesia, and enhanced recovery following exercise. WBC is typically initiated within the early stages (within 0–24 hours) after exercise and may be repeated several times in the same day or multiple times over a number of weeks. WBC modifies many important biochemical and physiological parameters in human athletes.”

Dr. Oz recommends Cryotherapy for relief from pain and chronic inflammation. Tony Robbins, Padraig Harrington, and Kobe Bryant each have their own Cryosauna at their homes. And recently, LeBron James and Floyd Mayweather are now using WBC.

Please Google “Whole Body Cryotherapy” and see for yourself how this may help you.

Cryotherapy for Weight Loss: Why it Works

Why is whole body cryotherapy so effective for weight loss? The answer is multi-tiered…

Cryotherapy is a cutting-edge technology that is gaining traction for its many health benefits. Among its many applications, cryotherapy has been found to be particularly effective for weight loss. Cryotherapy is a non-invasive, natural and effective way to help people lose weight by burning calories, increasing metabolism and suppressing appetite.

Cryotherapy involves exposing the body to extremely cold temperatures, typically between -120 to -145 Celsius, for a short period of time, usually three minutes. The process is not painful, as the cold air is extremely dry and very tolerable. The exposure to extreme cold triggers the fight or flight process in humans, which is responsible for the many benefits of cryotherapy.

Cryotherapy for weight loss. Visit CoeurCryo and find out why cryotherapy can aid your weight loss journey.

Cryotherapy For Weight Loss: Increases Caloric Burn

The first way in which whole body cryotherapy causes weight loss is by increasing caloric burn. When your skin is cooled significantly, it takes a lot of energy to reheat. As a result, a single three-minute whole body cryotherapy session can burn between 500 to 800 calories. These calories are not burned only during the three-minute session – the full reheating process can take up to an hour so you continue to burn lots and lots of calories even after the treatment is over.

Cryotherapy For Weight Loss: Increases Metabolic Rate

The second way in which whole body cryotherapy causes weight loss is by increasing metabolic rate. A component of the fight or flight process is to increase the metabolic rate in an effort to create more energy. This metabolic increase is an excellent tool for weight loss. Many factors, such as aging, hormonal imbalances, and lifestyle, can decrease our metabolism. Whole body cryotherapy is an excellent antidote – clients find that they are burning more calories passively for three to six days after a whole body cryotherapy session. In the long run, metabolism can be permanently increased with consistent treatments.

Cryotherapy For Weight Loss: Triggers The Release of Endorphins & Biochemicals

The final way in which whole body cryotherapy helps with weight loss is through the triggered release of endorphins and other biochemicals. This is also part of the fight or flight process initiated by whole body cryotherapy. One of the biochemicals released is called alpha-MSH or alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone. This hormone has a very unique and valuable function: it suppresses appetite. Many clients have noticed a significant decrease in their appetite following cryotherapy treatment.

In addition to these benefits, cryotherapy has other advantages. It can help with inflammation, reducing the pain of arthritis and other conditions, improving skin and increasing energy levels. Cryotherapy has been found to be especially useful for those with chronic pain, athletes recovering from injuries, and anyone looking for a way to improve their overall health and well-being.

One of the reasons why cryotherapy is so effective for weight loss is that it is a completely natural way to lose weight. Unlike other weight loss methods that can be harmful to the body, cryotherapy is completely safe and non-invasive. It does not require any drugs, surgery or other invasive procedures, making it an excellent alternative for people who want to lose weight in a natural and healthy way.

Whole body cryotherapy is an extremely powerful tool for weight loss. The high calorie burn, the metabolic increase, and the appetite suppression work together synergistically to stimulate weight loss in users. We have seen dramatic weight loss results from just ten sessions. For maximum results, it is recommended that clients receive consistent treatments over a period of time.

Cryotherapy is an excellent choice for anyone who is searching for a weight loss tool. At CoeurCryo, we are located in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and we are open five days a week with extremely flexible hours. We are always happy to create a customized weight loss protocol for our individual clients.

Cryotherapy is a highly effective, natural and safe way to help people lose weight. It increases caloric burn, increases metabolic rate, and suppresses appetite.

It's important to note that while cryotherapy can aid in weight loss, it should not be used as a sole weight loss method. It is important to combine cryotherapy with a healthy diet and exercise regimen for optimal results.

In addition to weight loss, whole body cryotherapy has many other benefits for the body. It can reduce inflammation, improve circulation, and boost the immune system. It can also help with pain relief and muscle recovery, making it popular among athletes.

Overall, whole body cryotherapy is a safe and effective method for aiding in weight loss. It is important to consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new weight loss regimen, including cryotherapy. With consistent sessions and a healthy lifestyle, it can be a powerful tool in achieving your weight loss goals.

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!

Whole Body Cryotherapy Relieves Asthma

What it is:

Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways that makes breathing difficult. Asthma is inflammation in the air passages that results in a temporary narrowing of the airways that carry oxygen to the lungs.

Causes:

  1. Allergens, colds, and environmental triggers cause the bands of muscle surrounding the airways to tighten and air cannot move freely.
  2. People with asthma have red and swollen bronchial tubes. This inflammation is thought to contribute greatly to the long-term damage that asthma can cause to the lungs. And, therefore, treating this inflammation is key to managing asthma in the long run.
  3. Highly sensitive airways: The airways of people with asthma are extremely sensitive; they overreact and narrow due to even the slightest triggers such as pollen, animal dander, dust, or fumes.

Symptoms:

  1. Wheezing
  2. Chest Tightness
  3. Shortness of Breath
  4. Coughing

Triggers:

  1. Infections such as sinusitis, colds, and flu
  2. Allergens
  3. Irritants such as air pollution
  4. Tobacco smoke
  5. Exercise
  6. Weather: change in temperature or humidity
  7. Strong emotions: anxiety, laughter or crying, stress
  8. Medications

At Chill Cryotherapy we have a medically formulated protocol for the treatment of asthma. We offer our clients a customized inflammation reducing cryotherapy treatment program that will reduce the coughing, wheezing, and tightness associated with asthma.  By reducing inflammation at the cellular level, airway narrowing is reversed and air moves more freely into the lungs. Additionally, histamine is a prominent component to allergic diseases such as asthma–allergenic triggers cause the body to release histamine which creates asthma symptoms. Whole body cryotherapy has been shown to reduce histamine production–potentially reducing the reactivity of the airways to allergen triggers. We treat adults and children over the age of 9. Parental consent and presence is required for the treatment of children under the age of 18. Please call us to discuss your treatment options for asthma: 208-449-7671

Stop Restless Leg Syndrome With Whole Body Cryotherapy

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder characterized by throbbing, pulling, creeping, or other unpleasant sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable, and sometimes overwhelming, urge to move them. Symptoms occur primarily at night when a person is relaxing or at rest and can increase in severity during the night. Moving the legs relieves the discomfort. The sensations range in severity from uncomfortable to irritating to painful.

Lying down and trying to relax activates the symptoms which causes people with RLS to have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. Left untreated, the condition causes exhaustion and daytime fatigue. Many people with RLS report that their job, personal relations, and activities of daily living are strongly affected as a result of their sleep deprivation. They are often unable to concentrate, have impaired memory, or fail to accomplish daily tasks. It also can make traveling difficult and can cause depression.

Until recently, there were various competing theories as to the causes of RLS. Prominent theories included:

  1. Iron deficiency;
  2. Dopamine dysregulation;
  3. Infection;
  4. Chronic diseases-kidney failure, diabetes & peripheral neuropathy;
  5. Certain medications;
  6. Pregnancy.

New research, however, indicates that although the above conditions are highly associated with Restless Leg Syndrome, it is underlying chronic inflammation that is causing these conditions in addition to the RLS. Therefore, RLS and the above conditions are actually concurrent side effects of underlying, chronic inflammation.

Groundbreaking research conducted in 2012 revealed “The fact that 95% of the 38 highly-associated RLS conditions are also associated with inflammatory/immune changes suggests the possibility that RLS may be mediated or affected through these mechanisms. Inflammation can be responsible for iron deficiency and hypothetically could cause central nervous system iron deficiency-induced RLS. Alternatively, an immune reaction to gastrointestinal bacteria or other antigens may hypothetically cause RLS by a direct immunological attack on the central or peripheral nervous system.” (1)

Current research suggests that inflammation is the root cause of RLS, as well as the concurrent conditions (once thought to be the source of RLS).

  1. The inflammation causing RLS can also affect iron levels. The scientific community agrees that inflammation can affect iron levels (2). The causality is often confused here: low iron appears to be one of the guilty parties when it comes to RLS symptoms but it is inflammation that is causing the low iron levels. Increasing iron levels will improve RLS symptoms, but addressing the underlying inflammation can actually cure the condition.
  2. Dopamine imbalance and RLS are both caused by inflammation. There are many scientific studies that show that a dopamine imbalance can be due to either low iron levels or caused directly from inflammation (3) (4). Increasing dopamine levels helps with the symptoms, but does not deal with the actual cause. The inflammation that is causing the dopamine imbalance must be dealt with directly if the levels are ever to stabilize.
  3. Infection causes chronic inflammation throughout the body and RLS is simply a “biomarker” revealing the high inflammation.
  4. Chronic conditions such as kidney failure and diabetes are associated with high inflammation throughout the body which then causes the RLS;
  5. Medications hypothesized to cause RLS are known to increase inflammation;
  6. RLS is caused by the higher inflammation found in pregnant women. Many scientific studies show that RLS symptoms are at their worst in the third trimester of pregnancy (5).Studies also show that inflammation levels tend to be higher in pregnant women, especially the third trimester (6).

At CoeurCryo, we have developed a treatment program to address Restless Leg Syndrome without the use of drugs. Pharmaceutical treatment for RLS comes with significant side effects. Our treatment program utilizes whole body cryotherapy to reduce systemic inflammation throughout the body. We see a dramatic improvement in symptoms related to RLS:

  1. pain and tingling is reduced;
  2. mental and physical energy increases;
  3. healthy sleep is restored.

Clinical trials show that whole body cryotherapy reduces inflammation by activating anti-inflammatory processes in the body. These processes include the anti-inflammatory effects of vasoconstriction and bio-chemical responses to cold.

We have experience treating clients with Restless Leg Syndrome and are confident that we can help you! We offer many treatment options to fit in with your budget and schedule. We are open 12 hours/day, 5 days a week to ensure that you receive the most effective, efficient and reliable cryotherapy treatment. Our cryotechnicians are trained in the technology of cryotherapy—but also in the biological science. CoeurCryo offers the safest and most effective cryotherapy for Restless Leg Syndrome and a host of other inflammatory-related health conditions and injuries.

(1) Sleep Med Rev. 2012 Aug;16(4):341-54. doi: 10.1016/j.smrv.2011.09.003. Epub 2012 Jan 17. Restless legs syndrome–theoretical roles of inflammatory and immune mechanisms. Weinstock LB1, Walters AS, Paueksakon P.

(2) Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Chiari et al 1995  Influence of Acute Inflammation on Iron and Nutritional Status Indexes in Older Inpatients

(3) Journal of Sleep Research : Mizuno et al 2004 CSF iron, ferritin and transferrin levels in restless legs syndrome

(4) J Neurochem. 2007 Mar;100(5):1375-86. Epub 2007 Jan 23. Inflammation induces mitochondrial dysfunction and dopaminergic neurodegeneration in the nigrostriatal system.Hunter RL1, Dragicevic N, Seifert K, Choi DY, Liu M, Kim HC, Cass WA, Sullivan PG, Bing G.

(5) “A common sleep disorder in pregnancy: Restless legs syndrome and its predictors.” Balendran J, Champion D, Jaaniste T, Welsh A. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2011 Jun;51(3):262-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1479-828X.2011.01294.x. Epub 2011 Mar 16.

(6) 2008 Jul;149(7):3470-7. doi: 10.1210/en.2007-1695. Epub 2008 Mar 27. Prokineticin-1: a novel mediator of the inflammatory response in third-trimester human placenta. Denison FC1, Battersby S, King AE, Szuber M, Jabbour HN.

How Cryotherapy Aids in Fat Loss

Eliminating fat through the application of cold is possible, as long as we have advanced technology in cryotherapy methods. Fat or adipose tissue is made up of adipocytes (cells that accumulate fat in their cytoplasm). There are three types of adipocytes:

For the body to function normally, our body must maintain a stable temperature between approximately 96.8° and 98.6° degrees Fahrenheit. When the ambient temperature decreases, the body responds by burning fat from brown adipocytes to generate heat.

This thermogenesis mechanism is the basis for the use of cryotherapy to burn fat. The temperatures reached in the cryotherapy cabin force the metabolism to work to maintain heat, based on the burning of body fat.

The Cryosense cryotherapy cabins collaborate in passive fat burning, promoting the elimination of fat in a natural and effortless way. The processes in Cryosense cabins affect all areas of the body, and therefore the results are homogeneous.

Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Disorders 

Immune-mediated inflammatory disorders are those in which the autoimmune processes have been identified as a cause of the disease. The experience in cryotherapy includes great number of these disorders: rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis (with or without arthritis) and multiple sclerosis.

What causes these diseases?

The immune system has highly specialized cells and proteins called cytokines. Under certain physiological conditions and after having detected harmful factors, they develop important functions to protect the human organism and defend it from agents that they destroy using a process of acute inflammation.

The potential to recognize harmful elements for the organism (antigens) appears during the embryonic development. It becomes an effective defense after having faced different pathogens throughout life. Nevertheless, it seems that it might stop working properly due to root causes (endogenous) or secondary causes (acquired). This would produce a loss of some of these specific properties leading to immune tolerance or absence of response to proper and foreign antigens, as well as self-aggressive immune reactions manifested by a chronic primary inflammation that destroys tissue. The cause of this phenomenon is still unknown, but genetic research is helping understand how immunology works. In this context, it has been recently discovered that a fault in chromosome 6 is responsible for the development of autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis. A risk gene for Crohn’s disease has been found in chromosome 16. This is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine that also produces self- aggression.

Although autoimmune diseases are systemic diseases (the entire body is affected), they also have very specific target organs, body areas where they affect specifically and manifestly. These are:

Cytokine TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor alpha) plays an obvious main role in these processes. The over-production of this protein by cells from the immune system triggers a chain reaction of inflammatory processes that foment self-aggressive function of immune cells. New cytokines are released and activated, and the walls of the blood vessels become permeable to the aggressive immune cells, allowing them to enter the target zone or target organ. These immunological discoveries, especially the destructive effect of TNF-α, have allowed the development of highly efficient treatments for these diseases.

Whole-body Cryotherapy enhances the state of health, reduces pain and signs of inflammation, improves general mobility and allows reducing medicine intake.

Cryotherapy for Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia patients often experience a variation in the therapeutic approach strongly dependent on their doctor’s opinion on the cause of the disorder. In fact, the origins of fibromyalgia remain unknown, and the attempts to explain their pathogenic causes are still too weak to establish a standard evidence-based treatment. Unfortunately, this situation leads to frequent changes of doctor, which is very harmful for a successful therapy. Plus, patients do not always believe that great part of the therapeutic potential lies in themselves.
In order to evaluate the therapeutic importance of cold, it is assumed that fibromyalgia is mainly related to a stress and pain management disorder whose characteristics are:

● Chronic development
● Pain of variable intensity throughout the body
● The possibility of a variety of vegetative, functional and mental disorders.

Main symptoms of fibromyalgia

● Spontaneous musculoskeletal pain for more than three months near the spine, between the muscles surrounding the joints, and low pain threshold.
● General increase of tactile sensitivity or when moving the aching areas.
● Memory disturbances.
● Fatigue and asthenia.
● Sleep disorders.
● Morning joint stiffness.
● Headache and migraine.
● Casual depressive mood and state of anxiety.
● Decrease of stress tolerance.

A multi-modal approach is always pursued when treating fibromyalgia. It includes several parts which are not to be forgotten when Whole-body Cryotherapy is used, such as:

Whole-body Cryotherapy has been successfully used for some time now to treat fibromyalgia, but it is only to be used if the patient tolerates it and it does not affect negatively their overall status. However, patients that have gone through heat treatments are often reluctant to believe in therapeutic cold. Nevertheless, people usually change their mind after a test session.

Whole-body Cryotherapy can be objectively proved as better than heat treatments through methods such as the measurement of pain, since chronic pain is the main symptom of fibromyalgia.

Pain in soft parts comes first, and it is often quite severe. There is also a tendency to muscle fatigue. The result: restrictions on joint mobility. After 20 or 30 exposures to cold, great improvements can be achieved. The success rate ranges between 40% and 80 %. These oscillations depend on the possibility of developing a memory for pain. In the interest of a sustainable success, Whole-body Cryotherapy should be combined, if possible, with activation treatments. It is recommended to practice gymnastic exercises within the 3 hours following the cold session. This will slowly increase physical activity and avoid pain. The tension and stretching of muscles should not last long. It must be kept in mind that pain and tension can interfere in the muscle groups to varying degrees. The result is often a cautious attitude towards these muscle groups at the expense of others. The gymnastics have the aim of achieving a balance between these differences. A moderate and controlled endurance exercise can complement the therapeutic exercise program. It is of vital importance to find your own limits and try not to overdo competition exercises, respect fatigue, write down your improvements without pain and admit your results with a positive attitude.

Therefore, Whole-body Cryotherapy can help regulate the level of the affected areas activity. This has a positive influence on sleep disorders that usually come with fibromyalgia, as well as on the depressive mood occasionally observed. Both sleep disorders and depressive mood are usually caused by chronic pain. Thanks to the decrease of pain and balancing effect of cold, it is possible to reach a state of restful sleep after a few days. The effects of the combination of Whole-body Cryotherapy and progressive muscle relaxation by Jacobson have been proved. This technique, along with the interaction with the resulting process of emotional balance, allows appreciating the state of muscle tension and relaxation.

The strong stimulus of cold throughout the body has a regulating effect of the state of capillary walls tension on a superficial level. This, coupled with a physical activity adapted to the capacities of each patient, leads to better mood.

The increase of irrigation of muscles described after the exposure to cold throughout the body might also lead to a regulation of metabolism in musculature and thus to a decrease of general malaise.
Finally, according to a medical study carried out at the Meprysa Polyclinic, endorsed by Dr. Armando Fernández Sánchez on 13 patients suffering from fibromyalgia, the following experimental conclusions were reached:

In conclusion, it can be said that the improvement is faster and more important, outbreaks diminish in users who have done more sessions more and more followed in time.
On the other hand, the general opinion of patients about Whole Body Cryotherapy, which within the different therapeutic alternatives they have tried (pain unit, acupuncture…) is the most satisfactory and effective.

Cryotherapy For Rheumatoid Arthritis

The pathological processes of this autoimmune disease appear mainly in joints. The membrane that covers the joint capsule is inflamed and the structures of cartilage and bone are destroyed. New principles have been adopted for treating this disease (blocking the TNF-α), but the treatment still requires a complex procedure, since rheumatoid arthritis is basically a systemic disease that weakens the whole organism. Then, the medicine or surgical treatment, or eventually kynesiotherapy, physical therapy -use of heat or cold- or psychological support have to be linked to the personal coping strategies of the patients and be coordinated.

An excellent and extensive bibliography about this topic has been published by relevant self-help organizations.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic, chronic and progressive disease whose cure is yet to be found despite all the therapeutic advances. Therefore, this treatment aims to produce a decrease of intensity of the symptoms in order to stop or slow their progression.

Whole-body Cryotherapy must be understood in this context as an additive physiotherapy that can help achieve the objective of the treatment if it is used correctly. It has not been conceived to replace other tested treatments, but the experience and research have shown that it usually helps reduce the medicine intake.

Whole-body Cryotherapy should be used within the framework of a clinical treatment, inpatient, two sessions per day (or three when there is great activity) during 2-3 weeks. Medical evaluations about the progress of the treatment should take place every 2-3 days.

Nevertheless, in outpatient cases, 10-15 sessions of exposure to cold are usually sufficient even when there is a high degree of inflammatory activity. This causes a relief of the symptom picture in terms of pain reduction and movement restrictions.

Therapeutic activities related to movement (kynesiotherapy, physiotherapy…) will not be abandoned under any circumstances during the cryotherapy cycles. Exercise enhances the synovial fluid in joints and benefit the nutrient supply to joint cartilage, which fights muscular atrophy caused by inactivity that would ultimately produce secondary damages, for example to the skeleton.

In essence, a cryotherapy program is advantageous in two different levels:

Pain relief can be kept by increasing the length of time of the cycle regime. The improvement in joint mobility is a long-term result whose effects can be observed during a long period after therapy.

On balance, Whole-body Cryotherapy enhances the state of health, reduces pain and signs of inflammation, improves general mobility and allows reducing medicine intake.