My First Try of Cryotherapy Cold Treatment. . . brrrrr
One of the benefits of living in my city is the availability of some of the newest and latest trends in the fitness world. There are other benefits, too, as the Third Son was telling me last night . . . being able to go to Six Flags, The Braves Games, Falcons Games, Hawks Games, you get the idea. I told him how cool it was for him because growing up I would have to drive miles and miles to do those things. Of course, he reminded me that I also didn't have to deal with the traffic that I do now. . . .Last week I tried something I've heard about, read about and have been meaning to try . . . Cryotherapy Cold Treatment at Icebox here in Atlanta. What does that mean? It means I voluntarily entered into a freezing cold chamber, butt naked, and subjected myself to freezing temperatures for a really loooong three minutes. I did this all in the name of research so I could share it with you guys. Actually, that is a lie. I did it because I had tweaked my calf muscle, was teaching 7 fitness classes that week, was also beginning teaching at a new studio so I didn't want to appear "lame" and had a couple of other events that week. In a nutshell, I was really sore and achey and was looking for some relief.If you are wondering about this treatment, whether you are just curious or have even tried it, the background is pretty cool.
The definition of Ccyotherapy is the local or general use of low temperatures in medical therapy. The term "cryotherapy" comes from the Greek cryo (κρυο) meaning cold, and therapy (θεραπεια) meaning cure. Cryotherapy has been used as early as the seventeenth century.
SourceAt Icebox, they use a single person Cryosauna for Whole Body Cryotherapy (WBC) that allows the body to be exposed to ultra-low temperatures (-200 to -240 F). A person steps into the chamber, wearing socks and Ugg like boots and gloves, and takes off the robe provided, and is lifted up just like in an elevator to that the head is exposed. The person is in the chamber for anywhere from 1.5 to 3 minutes which lowers the skin surface temperature.
This modality was first utilized in Japan in 1978 to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Studies conducted over the last two decades in Europe have established WBC as a powerful modality for inflammation reduction and injuries.Professional athletes have discovered WBC as a powerful treatment to decrease recovery time and increase athletic performance. Although Whole Body Cryotherapy originated in Japan, it was a group of Polish scientists who took the idea and made Whole Body Cryotherapy the physical therapy it is today. The Olympic rehabilitation center in Spala, Poland opened in May 2000 and has been used as a training and injury rehabilitation center for many athletes.
I must say I was a bit skeptical AND nervous. First of all, I'm not a fan of taking off my clothes! Secondly, I HATE being cold. Well, the folks were so nice and friendly that I felt nothing but comfortable. I even recognized the tech who was helping me so she was great at talking to me and keeping me entertained during the whole three minutes. Her tip to move my feet, as in marching them up and down, as I turned around in the chamber was a huge help. I will not lie - it was cold. REALLY cold. But not in a terrible, unbearable way. To me, an ice bath is both terrible and unbearable and seems to last forever. This did not. When the time was up my whole body was cold and my teeth were chattering just a bit, but I felt great. I mean I felt really great. I had gone in tired, wanting a nap, sore, fatigued and I came out feeling like the Energizer bunny. I felt like I could go move mountains and tackle just about anything. It was truly invigorating. And, best of all, I really felt great in my calf, my hips and my sore joints felt good and normal. That was definitely worth the three minutes!Some of the other benefits stated in the Icebox website are:Athletic Recovery & PerformanceDecreased muscle sorenessPsychological competitive edgeDecreased recovery timeIncreased blood and lymph circulationBoost immune systemHealth & WellnessDecreased fatigueTighter, healthier skinCellulite reductionStronger, fuller hairIncreased libidoWeight loss assistancePain & Inflammation ManagementReduction in pain & inflammationAssists in a quicker surgical recoveryAids in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis and osteoarthritisMy mother suffered so much from chronic pain from Rheumatoid Arthritis, that it made me really sad that I hadn't known about this to get her here to try this treatment. I think it might could have brought her some relief.In doing some more research on cryotherapy treatment, I came across this YouTube video by Dr. Oz demonstrating it on his show. You know I am usually a fan of his endorsements, so was glad to see him share this as good treatment.[embed]https://youtu.be/bW67zFufRio[/embed]In this video, Dr. Oz says this treatment usually costs $75 - $100. Fortunately, it's not that expensive at Icebox. Check out their website for pricing and more information.I would definitely say give it a try if you are in need of some recovery. Don't think it's only for serious athletes - we all need some relief and recovery at times! If you aren't in this area, check out your own area for treatment. Many spas and medical centers also have cyrotherapy.*This is not a paid or sponsored post. This is simply my sharing from my own experience.Have you tried this treatment? Did your teeth chatter? Would you? What do you think? Do you use ice regularly? Do you know someone who might benefit for health reasons? Enjoy Your Day!