Cryotherapy – harnessing cold for effective rehabilitation

The first portable cold-emitting treatment devices are due to Toshiro Yamauchi, a Japanese scientist at the Reiken Rheumatism Village Institute. The world’s first low-temperature chamber was developed in 1978. Interest in cryotherapy quickly circulated throughout the world and the development of the new treatment method proceeded apace. Just six years later, a second cryochamber was set up in Germany, with Prof. Reinhard Friecke, head of the St. Joseph’s Rheumatology Clinic in Senehorst, making a contribution.

Poland’s first low-temperature chamber was established in 1989 in Wrocław. The rapid development of technical thought in this field meant that, in a short space of time, further devices, chambers, as well as entire departments and institutes dedicated strictly to cold treatment were established. What is cryotherapy? What is its phenomenon? Can anyone benefit from it? These and other questions are answered in our article.

Low-temperature therapy in physiotherapy is categorized into two types: local cryotherapy, commonly applied to treat sports injuries, and systemic cryotherapy, which offers a broader spectrum of benefits. The second type, with a much wider range of benefits, is systemic cryotherapy – and it is to this type that we will devote more attention.

Systemic cryotherapy, as the name already suggests, works on many levels, on the whole body. It requires a cryochamber in which the temperature is lowered to between -100℃ and -160℃. The patient, after appropriate preparation, is in the cryochamber for 2-3 minutes (depending on the individual therapist’s indications). The first sessions are shorter so that the body can gradually adapt to the low temperatures.

The number of such sessions in the cryochamber depends on the indications – usually cycles of 5 to 15 entries at appropriate intervals are recommended to achieve optimal therapeutic effects.

The second stage of cryotherapy is cardio training. While in the chamber, local vasoconstriction occurs due to the low temperatures. This is the result of an autonomic reflex response to stimulation of skin receptors. After exiting the chamber, a second phase occurs in which the vessels dilate. Due to the stimulation of the cardiovascular system, cardio training should be carried out with an experienced physiotherapist, who will adapt the training parameters to the patient’s capabilities and state of health.

Both the cryochamber and well-adapted training have a supportive effect on the cardiovascular system, which in a cascade of positive events has a beneficial effect on many systems in the human body.

Cryotherapy is widely applicable in conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis, collagen diseases, tendonitis, and joint capsulitis.

Low-temperature therapy has wide-ranging analgesic, anti-oedema and anti-inflammatory effects. It has a soothing effect on the nervous system and helps reduce muscle tension. People who, among others, find benefits from cryotherapy include:

• suffer from pain (regardless of the area of pain),
• in need of biological regeneration,
• have an active lifestyle and are in need of soothing, relaxing and resetting,
• are exposed to chronic stress,
• suffer from diseases of the nervous system,
• want to prepare for sports training.

For the sake of wellness, athletes – not only competitive athletes – will also benefit from cryotherapy. Just a few therapy sessions will contribute to stimulating muscle regeneration processes and reducing muscle tension.

Low-temperature therapy also supports metabolic processes and stabilises the hormonal balance.

Scientific studies reveal intriguing connections between the effects of low-temperature exposure and enhanced longevity. During cryotherapy, processes related to natural regeneration and wellness are supported and stimulated. Systemic cryotherapy activates mechanisms such as the production of Heat Shock Proteins (HSP), which are involved in repairing cellular damage and protection against oxidative stress. In this way, cold therapy contributes to slowing down the ageing process.

Regular use of cryotherapy helps to actively prevent diseases of civilization, such as hypertension or type 2 diabetes. It also contributes to a reduction in abdominal circumference by stimulating metabolism.

The cardio training carried out immediately after leaving the cryochamber also has a hardening effect on the body, supports metabolic processes and increases the secretion of endorphins. This improves not only the condition of the body, but also the soul – the long-term effect of cryotherapy is an improvement in mood and a reduction in anxiety.

Life in the 21st century is very intense. Daily work, meetings, but even the very rhythm of the day – all this makes it increasingly difficult to avoid stress. Its effect on the body also affects our fertility. In women, this can manifest itself, for example, in the form of increased muscle tension, including in the pelvic floor. The longer the partners have been trying to have a baby and the more unsuccessful the efforts, the more the stress level increases. It is a vicious circle because the more nervous tension, the more muscle tension. Cryotherapy has proven effective in alleviating both muscle and nervous tension. The action of low temperatures and physical exercise after leaving the cryochamber help to stimulate and reset both the muscular and nervous systems.

The use of cryotherapy as part of fertility support can benefit not only women, but also men. Regular cryotherapy sessions can, in their case, help to improve semen quality by reducing oxidative stress, which negatively affects sperm motility and morphology.

Preparation for the procedure is minimal and straightforward. It is worth remembering not to eat a meal immediately before cryotherapy – after leaving the chamber you will have a cardio workout, so it is worth ensuring that your stomach is not overfilled. A safe interval is 30 minutes – provided that the meal consumed is light.

When planning cryotherapy, it is worth bearing in mind that the body will be agitated afterwards. For this reason, it is not advisable to carry out the treatment in the evening. Depending on the rhythm of your day, let it be 7 pm at the latest.

First, the patient must be qualified for the procedure by a doctor or physiotherapist. During this visit, possible contraindications are ruled out. If none are found, the patient is given all the necessary information about the procedure and agrees to it.

On the day of cryotherapy, upon arrival, the patient is placed under the care of an experienced physiotherapist who guides them step by step through the steps. Before entering the cryotherapy chamber, the patient is given a special outfit to protect the body from the low temperature. The outfit consists of shorts (in the case of women, also a top covering the chest), gloves, socks, wooden flip-flops, an ear band and a mask. Once all the items are put on, the patient is allowed into the cryochamber and the physiotherapist sets the appropriate temperature.

After leaving the cryochamber, cardio training follows – still under the supervision of the physiotherapist. The patient’s condition is monitored at all times, so the whole procedure is completely safe.

Cryotherapy, when administered by trained professionals, offers numerous benefits, including:

• treatment of sports injuries,
• supporting biological regeneration,
• stimulation of natural regenerative processes,
• slowing down ageing processes,
• strengthening the immune system,
• reduction of muscular tension,
• reduction of pain and inflammation,
• quieting of the autonomic nervous system,
• reduction of stress, psychosomatic symptoms, etc,
• support of the musculoskeletal system
• balancing the hormone balance,
• restoration of general well-being and harmony.

At NAMI Medical Holistic Care, we pride ourselves on offering a state-of-the-art cryochamber supported by a team of highly skilled physiotherapists. Therapy and training under the supervision of a specialist are safe and individually tailored to the patient, so that we can achieve the best possible results in the optimum time.

In facilities focused on holistic medicine, such as NAMI, cryotherapy is one of many elements to support and improve health. It fits perfectly into the philosophy of combining modern therapeutic methods with care for physical and mental health. For those seeking natural and effective methods to improve their quality of life, cryotherapy can become one of the cornerstones of daily preventative health care.