Cryotherapy FAQs
What is Cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy is short-term (1- to 3-minute) exposure to extreme cold: -160 to -202 degrees Fahrenheit.
When you step into the cryosauna, your body (from the neck down) will be enveloped by nitrogen gas, giving off a dry chill and rapidly lowering the skin’s surface temperature.
This exposure to extreme cold stimulates skin sensors, activating a central nervous system response. That, in turn, releases endorphins -- the body’s natural mood elevators and pain inhibitors.
The cold temperature also signals your brain to go into survival mode. In this mode, your blood vessels in the skin and periphery shrink and blood circulation to your organs improves to help keep them warm.
All the while, this process is getting rid of toxins and enriching your blood with the oxygen and nutrients to help stimulate cellular regeneration, decrease inflammation and clear toxins.
What do I wear?
For your Cryotherapy session, we ask that you wear your own socks. You will be given a robe to change into only your undergarments, and will be given gloves and slippers to wear in the chamber. You must remove all metal jewelry, if you have any piercings other than ears, you will be given a band aid to cover for your protection.
What should I expect?
For cryotherapy:
You will change out of your clothes into a robe, gloves, and slippers. Please wear your own socks. We will have extra available. No metal can be worn in the machine. Once you get in the machine, we will determine in you need risers, the machine also adjusts to the height of the person that that your head and next will be exposed. Once the door is closed, you will be asked to remove your robe. . The technician hits “start” and the dry nitrogen vapor will start to flow. Throughout the 1- to 3-minute session, you’ll rotate around and try to keep your mind off of the chill! You might hear beeping every 30 seconds, which is simply a safety mechanism for the unit and technician.
Once your session is over, the technician will hand you your robe for you to put on before the door is open, and you can exit the cryo machine and get dressed again. You may experience hunger after your session, as it does work to aide in metabolism.
Is there research that proves cryotherapy is effective?
Check out this segment on The Doctors, where Dr. Robert Sears steps into a cryosauna himself and explains the benefits.
Medical studies include:
Who uses these services?
Elite athletes and pro-teams use these services for faster muscle and injury recovery. Weekend warriors use it to manage pain and inflammation, for an increase in energy, and stress-related conditions. Those who use it say they can train harder as a result.
Cryotherapy is a fast and effective alternative to traditional ice baths. Compression therapy is effective for pain management and recovery.
Even if you’re not an athlete, you could benefit from these services too! They are great for those who have:
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Depression or looking to improve mental wellbeing
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Joint & muscle soreness
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Chronic pain
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Stress
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Fatigue
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Low libido
Is Cryotherapy good for Anti-Aging?
Yes! Several people, including A-list celebrities (whose job it is to look youthful) use cryotherapy as part of their anti-aging regimens since it helps with cellular regeneration, collagen production and circulation.
Once you leave the cryosauna, your newly-enriched oxygenated blood courses through your body, which helps the body’s natural ability to produce collagen.
Collagen is the most abundant protein in our body, found in muscles, bones, skin and tendons. It’s what makes our skin elastic (youthful!), strong and helps regenerate new skin cells. As we age, our collagen production slows down. Toxins like smoking and sun exposure also deplete collagen levels.
How cold is it in the cryosauna?
It ranges from -166 to -202 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on your comfort level.
Is it safe?
Yes. The cryosauna is always operated and monitored by a trained staff member.
Are there side effects?
Generally, cryotherapy is well-tolerated with minimal side effects, but you may experience changes in your blood pressure during the procedure, an allergic reaction to extreme cold (which is very rare), anxiety, claustrophobia, or triggering some viral conditions due to immune system stimulation.
Does cryotherapy help you burn calories?
Studies have shown that cryotherapy helps burn 500-800 extra calories over the course of the day after one session.
Is there an age requirement for cryotherapy?
For our cryotherapy sauna, you should be 11 and up with parental consent.
How often should I get cryotherapy?
It varies depending on your goals:
For athletic performance and recover--2 hours prior to an athletic event and within 24 hours after.
For pain management 10-20 sessions over a 2-4 week time span
For beauty and general wellness-- 2-3 times a week
You should wait 6 hours to use the infrared sauna after a cryotherapy session
Are there restrictions on those who can these services?
The following conditions are contraindicated for cryotherapy: Pregnancy, severe Hypertension (BP> 150/90), acute or recent myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, arrhythmia, diabetic with nerve damage, symptomatic cardiovascular disease, cardiac pacemaker, peripheral arterial occlusive disease, venous thrombosis, acute or recent cerebrovascular accident, uncontrolled seizures, Raynaud’s Syndrome, cold, fever, tumor disease, symptomatic lung disorders, bleeding disorders, severe anemia, infection, claustrophobia, cold allergy, age less than 18 years (parental consent to treatment needed), acute kidney and urinary tract diseases., cold-induced asthma, open wound or sore (including teeth abscesses, hyperthyroidism, acute respiratory disease peripheral arterial disease (Fontaine Stages III & IV ), bacterial and viral skin infections, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, Heart attack which dates less then 6 months, Polyneuropathy, low white blood cell count.
**Cryotherapy has not been approved by the FDA. We do not use this service to diagnose or treat. Please consult with your medical provider prior to use if you have any health concerns**