What is CRYOTHERAPY?
Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC) exposes the body to extremely low temperatures in a Cryosauna. It is an essential part of a fully integrated training program.
what is cryotherapy?
WHAT IS WHOLE BODY CRYOTHERAPHY?Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC) exposes your body to extremely low temperatures (-240 degrees Fahrenheit and lower) for 2 to 3 minutes to induce a physiological survival response. WBC is performed in a standing Cyrosauna chamber with an open top so that the head and shoulders are outside of the chamber. The chamber achieves the subzero temperatures required for WBC by using gasiform liquid nitrogen. Though the body is exposed to these extreme temperatures, the 2- to 3-minute sessions only lower the skin temperature by 40-50 degrees. This extreme cold triggers a survival response and the subsequent “warming up” after your session triggers relief and recovery by:
WHAT CAN I EXPECT WHEN I ARRIVE?At your appointment time and after you’ve signed our waiver (first visit only or during on-line registration), our Cryo supervisor will lead you to our private Cryo room and provide you with dry socks/slippers (required), gloves (optional but recommended), and a robe and leave you to change. You will need to remove your watch, all jewelry, and any exposed body piercings below your ears. When you are ready, our supervisor will return to the room and discuss the duration and mechanics of the session. To ensure your privacy, you’ll first step into the Cryosauna (with the slippers left on), close the door, and then hand your robe to the supervisor. The supervisor may adjust the Cryosauna platform electronically to position your head and neck above the rim of the Cryosauna. Your session begins with gasiform ultra-cold nitrogen released periodically into the Cryosauna. You may not hear anything but don’t worry, you’ll see the ultracold Nitrogen gas and feel the temperature dropping! Your supervisor will ask you to turn throughout the session to ensure even cooling of your skin and update you on the time remaining. At the end of your session, the supervisor will hand back your robe and, once you’ve emerged from the Cryosauna. The Cryosauna is designed for easy entry or exit—it can be opened from the inside or outside at any time and cannot be locked—so if you need to exit for any reason before your 2- to 3-minute session is through, simply tell your supervisor or step out of the chamber. We are serious about your safety and comfort. We use the only U.S.-made cryo machines on the market (M-Cryo). Our cryo team has been fully trained in the safe operation of the Cryosauna and can answer any questions you may have. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?Combine Training advocates using Whole Body Cryotherapy to accelerate training recovery time, reduce inflammation in the body, and manage joint pain. The extra boost of endorphins that is released with WBC is similar to a “runner’s high” and adds to the overall experience. Many websites and WBC providers claim additional or alternative benefits like weight loss, younger looking skin, and more. We do not promote these benefits as they have not been well researched or proven. ARE YOU REGULATED AND IS THIS FDA APPROVED?WBC is not FDA approved and is not a medical treatment in the United States. Though our Cryo supervisors are trained directly by the Cryosauna manufacturer and we have in place policies and procedures to ensure your safety, WBC is not a regulated practice in Connecticut or, currently, any state. As such WBC is not a “licensed” procedure. Please be aware of any WBC providers that claim to be approved or licensed as those credentials do not currently exist. WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?Dry footwear is mandatory for all Cryosauna sessions. If you do not have the right footwear, we’ll provide you with dry cotton socks and non-slip slippers. Though gloves are optional, they are highly recommended for your session. Snug-fitting undergarments like bike shorts, a sports bra, or a crop top are also recommended but not mandatory. We have found sessions to be more effective when more skin is exposed to the cold air so we recommend wearing as little as possible while still being comfortable. Since the head and neck are outside of the chamber, a hat or headgear is completely optional. Long, damp hair should be tied up or under headgear to ensure that the ends do not freeze. IS IT SAFE AND WHAT ARE THE RISKS?Single-person Cryosaunas have been used for over 30 years and WBC is safe when used with proper supervision and a trained supervisor. Our Cryo team has been fully trained in the safe operation of the Cryosauna and can answer any questions you may have. Vasoconstriction of the blood vessels will result in some temporary increase of heart rate (around 10bpm) and blood pressure (around 10 points). Anyone who cannot tolerate any increase in heart rate and blood pressure (even temporarily) should not undertake WBC. Frostbite can occur from skin contact to the cold surfaces of the Cryosoauna or if there is moisture on your skin or the clothes you wear. Precautions must be taken to ensure all clothing and footwear is completely dry. Dry footwear is mandatory and we strongly recommend using our socks and slippers (leave slippers on in the Cryosauna) to ensure dryness as even mild foot sweat can be an issue. We also strongly recommend wearing our gloves to protect fingertips. Though the head and neck are outside of the chamber, lightheadedness can occur as the gas released in the chamber is pure nitrogen (vs the air we breathe, which is about 80%). The chamber is appropriately vented and nitrogen naturally sinks to the floor. Please inform your Cryo supervisor if you feel any lightheadedness. Additional risks can include allergic reaction to extreme cold (rare), anxiety, activation of some viral conditions due to stimulation of the immune system, and feelings of claustrophobia.The Cryosauna is designed for easy entry or exit—it can be opened from the inside or outside at any time and cannot be locked—so if you need to exit for any reason before your 2- to 3-minute session is through, simply tell your supervisor or step out of the chamber. There has been one reported death in the USA from Cryosauna use. This occurred in 2015 when a worker at a Cryosauna facility used the equipment after hours and without a second person in the room. The coroner found that the person probably fainted from a low oxygen environment (likely from not adjusting the height of the platform therefore leaving her head inside the chamber) and then froze over an extended period of time. We always have a Cryo supervisor in the room while the machine is in operation and our machine is set to go off after a maximum of 3 minutes. Lastly, WBC is not suitable for some people. You should not use WBC if you have one of the following conditions: pregnancy, severe hypertension (BP > 180/100), acute or recent myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, COPD, intrathecal pain pump or electro stimulation implant device, atrial fibrillation, unstable angina pectoris, arrhythmia, symptomatic cardiovascular disease, cardiac pacemaker, peripheral arterial occlusive disease, venous thrombosis, acute or recent cerebrovascular accident, uncontrolled seizures or seizure disorders, Raynaud's Syndrome, fever, tumor disease, symptomatic lung disorders, blood disorders, circulatory disorders, severe anemia, infection, claustrophobia, cold allergy, open wounds, sores, or healing disorders, and acute kidney, liver, and urinary tract diseases. If you plan to use WBC, you cannot be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you have any doubt about your fitness for Whole Body Cryotherapy, please seek medical advice prior to your sessions. We cannot and do not provide medical advice. WHERE AND WHEN WAS THIS TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED?The first WBC chamber was built in Japan in the late 1970s but WBC was not introduced to Europe until the 1980s. It became more popular in the United States and Australia in the past decade. Whole Body Cryotherapy was initially intended for use in a clinical setting to treat patients with conditions like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, and although WBC is provided in over 50 European hospitals and medical clinics, it is now also being used in many spas and athletic training facilities. Elite athletes have recently reported using the treatment to alleviate delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) after exercise. The technology is now available to recreational athletes. WHAT CRYOSAUNA DO YOU USE AND WHY DID YOU CHOOSE IT?We use the only U.S.-made Cryo machines on the market (M-Cryo). Our Cryo team has been fully trained in the safe operation of the Cryosauna and can answer any questions you may have. We chose M-Cryo because of their round-the-clock customer support services and for their affiliation and success with several elite sports teams like the New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In addition, Nike, ESPN, and the WWE have M-Cryo WBC machines. IS IT COMFORTABLE?Though you may feel very cold at the start of your session, your body will stop shivering as your physiological responses kick in. The session is also very short—just 2- to 3-minutes—and the cold is completely “dry,” which is far more comfortable than wet. The outer layer of your skin may reach 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit in the chamber but warms up almost instantly when you exit. Clients who have previously tried ice baths have commented on how much more pleasant an experience WBC is. HOW MANY TREATMENTS SHOULD I DO?We recommend no more than one Cryo session per day though some elite athletes have been known to do more than one session a day. Please talk with the Cryo team before establishing this type of frequency. Your treatment frequency depends on your goals and training regimen. For most recreational athletes, an initial five to ten treatments in close succession (separated by 1-2 days, e.g. 3x per week) is the right number. After that initial period, fewer treatments spaced further apart can maintain and even improve your results. As with any recovery or treatment method, rely on your body to tell you what feels right for you. CAN I CATCH A COLD BECAUSE OF THIS PROCEDURE?No. The immediate cold impact of WBC will only lower the internal body temperature for a short period. The treatment is also completely dry. IS IT SANITARY?Yes. The Cryosauna’s natural temperature is set below any temperature at which germs and microbes can survive. HOW DOES IT COMPARE TO AN ICE BATH?Ice baths produce vasoconstriction similar to a Cryo session but do so over a much longer period. Ice baths cannot get cold enough to trigger the body’s survival mode that results in positive effects of a Cryo session. While ice baths have long been known as a recovery method, we believe that the Cryosauna is a much more effective and efficient way to drain lactic acid and reduce inflammation and that it does so with less discomfort. I AM CLAUSTROPHOBIC. CAN I USE WBC?Yes. Your head will be above the upper rim of the chamber during the entire experience so you should not feel any ill effects of small spaces. Our XL M-Cryo machine is the biggest on the market (36 inches in diameter compared to the typical 30-32 inches). The Cryosauna is designed for easy entry or exit—it can be opened from the inside or outside at any time and cannot be locked—so if you need to exit for any reason before your 2- to 3-minute session is through, simply tell your supervisor or step out of the chamber. DO I HAVE TO TAKE A SHOWER BEFORE OR AFTER?No. It is crucial that the Cryo sessions are done dry (dry body, dry clothes) and the machine will not make your skin wet. We specifically recommend that you do not shower before your session. If you must shower, please allow enough time for your body to be completely dry. If your hair is damp, it should be tied up or under headgear to ensure that the ends do not freeze. CAN I WORK OUT BEFORE OR AFTER A CRYO SESSION?Yes. In fact, doing a WBC session before a workout may even energize you for your exercise session, release endorphins, and set you up for less muscle soreness after your workout. A WBC session after a workout will provide immediate relief from soreness. The relief should last for several hours. IS THERE AN AGE RESTRICTION?We do not recommend Whole Body Cryo for people younger than 14 years of age as there is a not enough data to support the safety of WBC on younger people. There is a minimum height requirement of 5 feet and the maximum is 6 feet 9 inches. The minimum height requirement is to ensure that the client is tall enough for the Cryosauna. The Cryosauna’s adjustable platform works for anyone between 5 feet and 6 feet 9 inches. IS THERE A HEIGHT / SIZE / WEIGHT LIMIT OR RESTRICTION?Our XL M-Cryo machine can accommodate people weighing between 100 pounds and 500 pounds. The XL M-Cryo machine is the biggest on the market (36 inches in diameter compared to the typical 30-32 inches). The machine has an adjustable platform and can accommodate heights between 5 feet and 6 feet 9 inches. WHAT’S THE RESEARCH?WBC has been found to be effective for the discomforts we’ve mentioned throughout our site (post-training recovery, inflammation, and joint pain). There have also been several positive studies of the benefits of WBC but many of these studies used small sample sizes. Research on the more anecdotal aspects such as younger looking skin and weight loss should be treated more skeptically and are not outcomes we advocate. WBC was initially intended for use in a clinical setting to treat patients with conditions such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, and although WBC is provided in over 50 European hospitals and medical clinics, it is now being used in many spas and athletic training facilities. WBC is safe and no known significant side effects have been found. We recommend trying WBC for yourself to see if it’s right for you. Please consult your doctor before beginning your WBC program. WHO SHOULD NOT USE WHOLE BODY CRYOTHERAPY?You should not use WBC if you have one of the following conditions: pregnancy, severe hypertension (BP > 180/100), acute or recent myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, COPD, intrathecal pain pump or electro stimulation implant device, atrial fibrillation, unstable angina pectoris, arrhythmia, symptomatic cardiovascular disease, cardiac pacemaker, peripheral arterial occlusive disease, venous thrombosis, acute or recent cerebrovascular accident, uncontrolled seizures or seizure disorders, Raynaud's Syndrome, fever, tumor disease, symptomatic lung disorders, blood disorders, circulatory disorders, severe anemia, infection, claustrophobia, cold allergy, open wounds, sores, or healing disorders, and acute kidney, liver, and urinary tract diseases. If you plan to use WBC, you cannot be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If you have any doubt about your fitness for Whole Body Cryotherapy, please seek medical advice prior to your sessions. We cannot and do not provide medical advice. |
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