Cryotherapy is a broad range of treatment methods that are becoming popular
amongst patients and doctors for treating various ailments. However, whenever a
new treatment method is created, there is still an aura of hesitance, mainly because
patients are not aware of the way it works.
Below, we discuss the science behind cryotherapy and how it works, so you can
learn everything you need when you decide on cryotherapy for treatment.
What Is Cryotherapy?
“Cryo” is a Greek word that means extreme cold. Similarly, cryotherapy is a
collection of treatment methods that use extreme colds to treat ailments.
Cryotherapy can either be localised or whole body and involves various methods of
exhibiting freezing temperatures to the body.
While cryotherapy is relatively new, using cold to treat inflammation and swelling is
as old as the ancient Egyptians. However, with technology advancing to a new level,
cold can now be used to treat much more.
Cryotherapy was first developed in 1970 by Japanese rheumatologist Toshima
Yamaguchi to treat arthritis. Recently, it has treated cancer, skin issues, pain relief,
non-surgical body sculpting, and more.
To understand the science behind cryotherapy, you must understand how it works
and how medical professionals use it.
How Does Cryotherapy Work?
Cryotherapy involves treating ailing parts of the body with extremely cold
temperatures. While the overall principle of different treatments in cryotherapy
remains the same, the difference is in how the cold temperature is applied.
Cold temperatures are applied through ice packs, a chamber, or a probe.
Cryotherapy uses freezing agents such as liquid nitrogen, nitrous oxide, and argon
gas to lower the temperatures.
There are two methods of applying cold temperature, which are:
- Externally: This involves treating the outer layers of skin, either with an
icepack or a freezing agent to target excess stores of fat cells (adipocytes) to
fasten the natural death process and freeze fat. - Internally: This involves treating the inside of the body, such as cancer.
Internal cryotherapy usually involves inserting a probe into the body.
Cryotherapy can be localised to a specific body region, or you can go through
whole-body cryotherapy.
How Localised Cryotherapy Works
Localised cryotherapy involves targeting a specific body area and applying cold
temperature only to it, which is usually done using pressurised liquid nitrogen
vapours.
The extreme temperature causes vasoconstriction, which is the narrowing of the
blood vessels and stimulates the production of collagen, the protein responsible for
our skin health.
Localised Cryo 21 is a method to treat fat on the surface, such as the hips, buttocks,
thighs, and belly and helps treat inflammation and pain.
Localised cryotherapy not only stimulates fat freezing but improves microcirculation
and increases the production of hormones such as endorphins and adrenaline,
which help speed up recovery.
How Whole-Body Cryotherapy Works
As the name suggests, the whole body is treated with extremely cold temperatures,
excluding the head. The procedure is done in a cryo-chamber which realises liquid
nitrogen or another freezing agent, reaching a temperature of around -250 degrees
Fahrenheit.
The extreme temperature all over the body causes vasoconstriction, and the blood
moves away from the extremities and towards the body’s core. This increases anti-
inflammatory responses and oxygenation of red blood cells.
The oxygen and protein-rich blood rush back to the extremes when the
temperatures rise, and the blood vessels dilate.
The Science Behind Cryotherapy
To get a better understanding of how cryotherapy works and how it can be used to
treat you, you must understand the science behind cryotherapy.
Cryotherapy For Cancer
Cancer Research UK states that cryotherapy can be used to treat cancer. The
treatment, also called cryoablation, involves using extreme colds to kill cancer cells
using localised cryotherapy methods, either internal or external.
The procedure for treating tumours with cryotherapy is simple. The doctor applies a
freezing agent such as liquid nitrogen on the cancerous area, which freezes and kills
the excess excels developing because of cancer. The dead cells form a scab that
falls off.
Additionally, the procedure for an internally localised treatment of cervical cancer or
prostate cancer involves a cryoprobe in the body, which release the freezing agent
on the tumour.
Cryotherapy for Pain Relief
Originally, cryotherapy was a means of pain relief in rheumatoid arthritis. Research
in 2000 found the cold press could alleviate pain and reduce the damage from
excess exercise.
Generally, when exposed to extreme cold, the blood rushes from the skin to the
organs. This is why your skin looks pale in the winter.
The blood rushes back to the skin when the temperature rises to normal.
When near the organs, the blood absorbs proteins and white blood cells,
taking these substances to the muscles to speed up healing.
Similarly, cold temperatures stimulate the production of endorphins, the pain relief
hormone that helps us sleep better and aids in migraine relief.
Cryotherapy for Skin Health
A study published in the JAMA Dermatology Journal showed that whole-body
cryotherapy could improve atopic dermatitis, while another study showed that
cryotherapy reduces the effects of acne in mice.
The science behind cryotherapy in improving skin health revolves around how cold
affects skin functions. The extreme cold induces collagen production, which works
to repair and improve skin health. When the temperature drops below 40 degrees
Fahrenheit, the body begins to repair the skin’s epidermis, regardless of whether
there is any actual damage.
Additionally, cryotherapy increases antioxidant levels in the blood that fight and
neutralise free radicals that can kill skin cells.
Cryotherapy can also treat warts and other skin growth. The excess growth is frozen
through liquid nitrogen until it forms a scab form, which then falls off.
Many cryotherapy techniques include non-invasive body contouring, non-surgical
facelift, and other pain free methods for treating skin.
Since cryotherapy can reduce inflammation in the body, it can also alleviate
symptoms of eczema, as shown by a 2008 study where participants swapped
medication for cryotherapy and saw improvement in their conditions.
Cryotherapy for Anxiety and Depression
A 2008 study found that cryotherapy reduces anxiety and depression system by
half. Similarly, a 2012 study discussed the possibility of how cryotherapy could
improve or prevent dementia.
The science behind cryotherapy in these studies was linked to reducing
inflammation and oxidative stress. Additionally, cryotherapy stimulates the release
of endorphins and melatonin. These hormones work together to alleviate stress and
anxiety and help us sleep.
Additionally, cold temperatures induce the prolonged release of dopamine, the
happy hormone. Dopamine links to pleasure and mood elevation and can improve
anxiety and depression symptoms.
Cryotherapy for Muscle Recovery
A study showed that cryotherapy could relieve muscle pain and speed muscle
recovery. This is because when the blood moves to the core due to extreme cold, it
enriches itself in proteins and nutrients.
When the temperature warms, vasodilation causes the blood to rush to the surface
and absorb more oxygen. The highly oxygenated and nutrient-rich blood speeds up
muscle recovery and is useful in treating injuries.
Cryotherapy for Weight Loss
The science behind cryotherapy for weight loss is simple. The procedure, also called
fat freezing, involves keeping the body at low temperatures. Since the body has to
keep the temperature at optimum levels, When the surrounding temperature lowers
below optimum levels, the body starts working to raise it. The lower the
temperature, the higher the body works.
This means the body will increase its metabolic process and burn more calories to
maintain the energy used to raise the temperature. However, this is not a one-time
process. A study showed that patients must go through ten cryotherapy sessions to
see significant weight loss changes.
Cryolipolysis fat freeze body sculpting has become a popular method of permanent
fat removal for patients who prefer a quick and safe method of non-surgical body
sculpting.
The Before, During, and After of Cryotherapy
Before going for cryotherapy, your healthcare provider will give you specific
instructions to prepare yourself for the procedure.
If you have external cryotherapy, you will be sprayed with a freezing agent. If you
have internal cryotherapy, the healthcare provider will make a small incision on
your skin and use an ultrasound to help guide a probe to the treatment site.
Depending on the treatment, you will either get local or general anesthesia. Local
anesthesia makes you unable to feel pain in a targeted area, while general
anesthesia puts you to sleep.
After your cryotherapy session, you might experience red skin and a mild numbing
sensation. These side effects are normal and go away within an hour.
Should You Get Cryotherapy?
This innovative medical treatment is effective and scientifically bakes, but most
people still vary because they do not know how cryotherapy works.
Now that you know the science behind cryotherapy, you can better decide if cryotherapy is right for you.
Cryotherapy can help improve skin health, treat anxiety and depression, speed
recovery, freeze fat, and more. Cryotherapy is a one-for all medical treatment that
is becoming popular amongst patients and medical professionals.
However, you must ensure that you get treated by a specialist who is experienced
in the medical field, such as Tracey Haw at Body Sculpt GC, a trained and registered
nurse with over 23 years of experience. Contact Tracey and book your cryotherapy
session today.