What is cryotherapy?

“Cryo” comes from the Greek word krýos, which means “icy cold”. “cryotherapy” = “cold therapy”.

Examples of cryotherapy include

1 Ice application: which is simply Applying ice or a cold pack to a part of your body.

2 Cold showers: Stand in a stream of cold water.

3 Cold water immersion (CWI): includes ice baths, and cold plunges, in water that’s 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celcius) or colder.
Cold water immersion induces vasoconstriction reducing acute inflammation, swelling, and muscle soreness (DOMS).

4 Whole-body cryotherapy (WBC): Uses an expensive chamber that blasts you with freezing air — no water required. 

What are the benefits of cryotherapy?

It all comes down to personal preference. What are you willing to do and for how long? Is the benefit proportional to the “stress” you will undergo during the therapy session? No pain no gain?