Cryotherapy: What Is It, And Can We Use It To Improve Health And Longevity?

Cryotherapy has been around longer than one might think, with its roots reaching over 100 years. However, modern cryotherapy techniques and treatments are now being researched and studied to unlock the secret to their potential benefits. Cryotherapy is an innovative medical treatment that has sparked interest among the scientific community for its possible applications in promoting optimal health and physical longevity. Cryotherapy Brighton centers have made this unique therapy more accessible, helping bring individuals seeking wellness closer to their goals. Cryotherapy can be seen as a journey of personal discovery – it encourages us to take a deeper look at our lifestyles and practices inside and out to strive for long-term improvements in our health. But like any treatment, there can be downsides to consider before making any decisions. The next step is up to you!

What Is Cryotherapy?

Cryotherapy has many applications and uses, from cryosurgery to the simple help of an ice pack on a wound. But this article focuses specifically on cryo-chambers, cryo-saunas, or cold saunas that provide partial or whole-body exposure to extremely cold air. While these terms may require clarification for some, the most essential factor to consider is what temperature the chamber gets to and how much of the body is exposed to it. This level varies wildly depending on the type and extent of treatment necessary. So while some may use whole-body cryotherapy just for a burst of invigoration during a workout routine, others might use partial submersion in colder temperatures as an imperative form of pain relief. No matter how it is used, more often than not, cryotherapy has profound effects when applied correctly.

What Happens When We Get Cold?

Cryotherapy could be incredibly beneficial to us if we take the time to understand how our body responds to cold temperatures. One of the most naturally occurring ways our body responds is through shivering – our muscles repeatedly contracting to create “waste” heat that helps keep our bodies warm. Additionally, there is a measurable increase in the body’s metabolic rate during cold exposure. Much of this energy is expended by brown and beige fat tissue, whose purpose is to produce heat. By understanding what goes on inside our bodies when exposed to cryotherapy, we can better understand its beneficial potential.

Health Benefits of Cryotherapy

Inflammation and Ageing

Cryotherapy has always been an interesting method to reduce inflammation throughout the body and potentially increase human longevity. Despite this potential, the research on whether cryotherapy has anti-inflammatory benefits is still inconclusive. Some studies have failed to detect a link between these two, all while others have demonstrated promising results using this method. Evidence even suggests that ten sessions of cryotherapy can help maintain lower levels of inflammatory molecules for up to two weeks. With more research and studies being conducted on the subject, we may soon be able to confidently conclude if cryotherapy can reduce inflammation and open a new door to more efficient longevity treatments.

Pain and Wound Healing

Cryotherapy has been getting much attention from the sports performance world, as research suggests that it can confer many potential benefits. The promise of reduced muscle pain, fewer muscular fatigue symptoms, and faster recovery are all attractive to competitive athletes and teams. Yet some studies have not found any correlation between cryotherapy applications and more efficient post-workout recovery, leaving scientists with more questions than answers about its efficacy when used for this purpose. Despite this uncertainty, the potential gains provided by cryotherapy make it an area of study worth exploring for any athlete or team focused on squeezing peak performance out of their bodies.

Exercise-Mimicking and Weight Loss

Non-athletes now have great potential to take advantage of the numerous health benefits of cryotherapy. Not only have studies identified a decrease in triglycerides, which helps better store fat, but an increase in ‘good’ HDL cholesterol is also reported. Impressive beyond that, cryotherapy is also pitted to release beneficial myokines from muscle in a similar manner as exercise does. Myokine includes irisin, an attractive collection molecule with amazing potential for promoting weight loss and controlling blood sugar levels. Even more unparalleled, irisin activates the formation of brown fat, which physiologically burns fat for energy rather than storing it away. With all this science behind cryotherapy and its effects on fat metabolism and handling, non-athletes seriously need to consider trying out cryotherapy for incontrovertible health gains! Despite some encouraging evidence from certain studies, the link between whole-body cryotherapy and reducing body fat appears more complicated than first thought. For instance, while one study found that these sessions had a notable effect on 19 obese post-menopausal women, another study where 45 overweight and obese men took part did not experience any significant differences. What’s more, the impact of this therapy appears highly contingent on participants’ fitness levels. In those with low-fitness levels, irisin levels increased following cryotherapy, yet there was a slight drop in those identified as high-fit. This matter requires further investigation.

Conclusion

Cryotherapy is an intriguing wellness therapy that could potentially provide various health benefits. From reducing inflammation throughout the body to promoting weight loss and faster exercise recovery times, its potential applications have scientists worldwide exploring its potential further. Even with some inconclusive results from studies conducted to date, it’s clear that there are a few encouraging signs of cryotherapy’s efficacy. With further research and studies conducted, it may be possible to confidently conclude if cryotherapy is a legitimate health therapy and worth adding to our longevity treatments. In the meantime, though, athletes and non-athletes should try this unique wellness treatment for themselves.