Cryotherapy Before and After: Exploring the Impact on the Mind and Body
With its many physical and mental benefits, cryotherapy has risen in popularity in recent years. Cryotherapy—or the understanding and benefits of cold exposure—was thought to be known as far back as the ancient Egyptians.
Since then, technology has advanced far from the days of sitting still with water dripping on your head.
Here at The Body Lab, our whole-body cryotherapy (WBC) process features a whole-body dual cryotherapy chamber: the initial chamber is – 60C, whilst the second chamber is – 110C. You enter the initial chamber for 30 seconds before moving into the main chamber for up to 3 ½ minutes.
Exposure to these below-freezing temperatures can enhance physical and mental performance and aid in recovery.
Effects of Cryotherapy on the body
Repeated exposure to below-freezing temperatures helps improve your resilience to the physical effects of cold and mental stresses and difficulties. This resilience stems partly from the drastic drop in body temperature, shocking the body into fight or flight mode.
In other words, your nervous system gets put on high alert, ready to protect you from supposed 'danger'.
Working through this builds your endurance capabilities, training your brain and body to push through strenuous or painful mental and physical situations.
Similarly, this reduction in temperature can help combat inflammation, pain, and swelling, similar to the effect you receive when using an ice pack. This makes it extremely effective at working to prevent and treat muscle soreness post exercise.
Post-exercise recovery with cryotherapy
WBC is also beneficial as a post-exercise recovery treatment. In addition to rapidly cooling down your body, the sub-zero environment significantly reduces and prevents inflammation caused by exercise. This can decrease injury risk, muscle soreness, and aching.
Additionally, while this won't improve exercise performance for the next workout, leveraging cryotherapy in this way can help athletes recover quicker and be ready for that next intense bout of fitness.
Whole-body cryotherapy and mental health
Multiple other mental health benefits can be gained from WBC: just one session can increase the release of endorphins and dopamine. Often referred to as 'happy hormones,' these play an essential role in boosting mood and relieving stress.
Some people primarily use cryotherapy to achieve these results, seeking a quick yet natural mood booster. These benefits can help users see the benefits of symptoms of anxiety and depression. While cryotherapy shouldn't be used as a primary solution to these mental health conditions, it can be an excellent auxiliary recovery therapy to alleviate symptoms temporarily.
Additionally, the shock of the cold and the increased adrenaline production can significantly raise your energy levels. However, unlike the sharp rise and subsequent crash created by stimulants such as caffeine, cryotherapy produces a much more sustained, steady flow of energy. These benefits also apply to cold water immersion or plunges.
Because of this, many people like using cryotherapy before exercise or first thing in the morning, getting themselves mentally prepped and alert for a training session or busy workday.
The role of cryotherapy in injury recovery
Cryotherapy can also be useful in the recovery process for those who are already injured. By increasing blood flow and reducing inflammation, damaged tissues may repair more quickly. The extreme cold can also help ease injury-related pain while simultaneously building pain tolerance.
The results from whole-body cryotherapy regarding injury recovery will be gradual over repeat sessions. While you may experience immediate pain relief, the full benefits begin to show after multiple sessions. If you're looking to use cryotherapy solely for injury recovery, it is recommended that you engage with cryotherapy under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
Using it alongside Osteopathy, for example, can be a great way to benefit from both and use one another to support your recovery goals.
The Whole-body Cryotherapy Experience
Given its wide range of applications, cryotherapy is an excellent addition to recovery routines. With its ample benefits, anyone can use cryotherapy and see great results on both the body and mind.
So, whether you want to enhance your physical fitness, mental stamina, or healing process, contact The Body Lab to book in, or do so easily online here.
