Do you have any skin conditions like warts, tags, or dark spots? Are you suffering from prostate, bone, or liver cancers? Do you want to treat them without any surgery? Cryotherapy is ideal. Popularly known as “cold therapy,” it mainly involves exposing the body to extremely cold temperatures for a certain period. These intense colds occur due to liquid nitrogen, argon gas, and liquid nitrous oxide. Doctors can apply it to a single location or the entire body depending on your conditions.
Localized Cryotherapy can be delivered in various ways, including ice massage, ice packs, ice baths, coolant sprays, and even probes inserted into the skin. Whole-body Cryotherapy depends on the concept of immersing the entire body for two to four minutes at – 200–300°F.
Cryotherapy can be beneficial after just one session which might cost you 60$ – 100$, but it is most successful when used regularly. Some sportsmen use it twice a day, whereas others will go regularly for ten days, then once a month after that. It induces various physiological changes in the body, reduces inflammatory actions, induces a strong immunity, and releases adrenaline hormones that boost the patient’s mood. So, do you want to try it? If yes, then let’s learn more about its benefits and side effects before that.
Benefits of Cryotherapy
1. Good for Pain Relief and Muscle Healing
Cryotherapy can treat muscular pain, various joint and muscle problems, including arthritis, and hasten athletic injuries recovery. Doctors have long advised ice packs for injured or aching muscles. After the ice pack is removed, this may promote healing and pain alleviation by increasing blood circulation.
It provides a certain amount of relief from the pain and discomfort caused by rheumatoid arthritis. According to the study, Cryotherapy with ice packs might effectively reduce the negative consequences of strenuous exercise. People who used this treatment also reported a decrease in pain.
Another study from 2017 backs up Cryotherapy’s effectiveness in reducing muscle discomfort and speeding up recovery.
2. Can Soothe Inflammation
Inflammation is also one of your body’s defense mechanisms against any infection. The immune system might become too reactive at times. Chronic inflammation is the result, and it’s connected to diseases like cancer, diabetes, depression, dementia, and arthritis.
As a result, lowering inflammation may enhance general health and reduce the risk of various chronic diseases. Cryotherapy has been shown in several studies to lessen inflammation. However, because most research has been conducted on rats, further human analysis is required to corroborate the findings.
3. Can Reduce Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms
Cryotherapy can be very effective for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). It is characterized by the immune system’s (autoimmune) destruction of nerves, exacerbated by oxidative stress. The symptoms include
- Weak muscles, painful spasms, fatigue,
- Dizziness and numbness
- Depression and mood changes
50 MS patients were treated with ten cold chamber sessions in two investigations. The use of a CryoSauna lowered oxidative stress considerably. In a study, Cryotherapy sessions improved functional status and fatigue in 48 MS patients. Those with higher degrees of weariness had a more dramatic change. Another study of 24 MS patients found that whole-body Cryotherapy enhanced exercise ability and weariness.
4. Numbs Nerve Irritation
Cryotherapy has been used to treat injuries by many athletes for years, and one of the reasons is that it can numb the pain. An inflamed nerve can be dampened by the cold. Doctors will use a small probe implanted into nearby tissue to treat the afflicted area. Pinched nerves or neuromas, chronic pain, and even acute injuries can all benefit from this treatment.
5. Treats Various Skin Conditions
Atopic dermatitis refers to the chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by dry and itchy skin. Because Cryotherapy can increase antioxidant levels, both localized and whole-body Cryotherapy can help cure atopic dermatitis by lowering inflammation in the blood. Another study (in mice) looked at how it affected acne by focusing on the sebaceous glands.
Side Effects of Cryotherapy
Besides the benefits, Cryotherapy has many side effects, which the experts divide into immediate and delayed types.
- Pain: Pain usually begins during Cryotherapy and can last for days or weeks afterward. Even 24 hours after the procedure, the patient may still be in discomfort. Before and after the treatment, patients are usually given pain medication.
- Swelling and burns: Swelling and burn can occur after the Cryotherapy session. The patient may seep first, followed by edema and redness at the operation site, lasting up to three days. Experts can give you Corticosteroids until the situations get better.
- Infection and scars: Infection is frequently manifested by pus or seeping that lasts for a long time. Cryotherapy can leave either temporary or permanent scars.
- Numbness and frostbite: When a superficial nerve gets frozen due to Cryotherapy, numbness may occur and might continue for a few months. Mild redness to big frostbites can occur if the person opts for repeated Cryotherapy or has diabetes or heart issues.
- Affects the vitals: If the duration for cryotherapy is more, your blood pressure can increase, while the rate of respiration and heart can reduce.
Conclusion
So, these are the benefits and side-effects of Cryotherapy that everyone should know before opting for this treatment. It helptreatng dementia, Alzheimer’s, and low-risk tumors by freezing the cancer cells and retina cancer in kids. But never forget to consult with your doctor or healthcare professional to see if it’s right for you, especially if you have any health issues or are on any medication.
Reference link
https://www.healthline.com/health/cryotherapy-benefits
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319740
https://www.medicinenet.com/what_are_the_side_effects_of_cryotherapy/article.htm
